Spanish Member of the European Parliament, Hermann Tertsch, has urged the European Parliament to take definitive action against Cuba's regime. He emphasized that the time for mere warnings has ended, as the European Parliament prepares for a critical vote regarding Cuba in its plenary session in Strasbourg.
"The era of warnings and threats is over. We must act. The Europarliament can't continue with pointless warnings and threats that never materialize," Tertsch stated on the social media platform X. As a member of the VOX party and Patriots for Europe group, he expressed his frustration with the ongoing approach.
Call for Concrete Measures
Tertsch's remarks come amidst a European Parliament debate focusing on human rights abuses and political repression in Cuba. A resolution concerning the island is set to be voted on during Thursday's plenary session in Strasbourg.
The Spanish legislator revealed that his group has proposed several amendments to the resolution under discussion. "These amendments are perfectly viable for anyone who understands the urgency of Cuba's need for freedom and the fall of the dictatorship," he asserted.
Pressure to Revoke EU-Cuba Agreement
The resolution, primarily backed by Patriots for Europe, along with support from the European People's Party (EPP) and Renew Europe, calls for the suspension of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union and Cuba. It also demands the end of European subsidies to the regime and the release of over 1,200 political prisoners, as reported by human rights organizations.
During his speech to the plenary, Tertsch intensified his criticism of the Cuban authorities. "Sixty-seven years of dictatorship, a murderous communist regime that imprisons its own people, turning Cuba into a massive prison for more than six decades," he declared.
Questioning the Legitimacy of the PDCA
The eurodiputado challenged the continuation of the PDCA, which has been provisionally in place since November 2017, arguing that it has not improved human rights in Cuba. "This agreement has given the dictatorship a veneer of legitimacy and millions of euros from European taxpayers," he claimed. He insisted that these funds end up supporting "the party organizations that terrorize the people and the mafia-like groups at the top of the dictatorship."
Tertsch also highlighted recent appearances in the European Parliament by Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer and writer Zoé Valdés, who have advocated for increased international pressure on Havana. In a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in May, Ferrer described the EU-Cuba agreement as "an aspirin for a terrible cancer."
Criticism of the European Left
The Spanish lawmaker didn't hold back criticism for the Europarliament's left-wing groups, accusing them of being lenient towards the Cuban regime. "Those who still want to cozy up to the dictatorship shouldn't hide behind repeating empty resolutions from the past. Let them align with the left, which has once again proven to be the champion of criminal Castrism in the European Parliament," he declared.
This political offensive against the agreement with Cuba occurs amid increasing pressure from Brussels. In January 2026, the European Parliament passed an amendment urging a review and suspension of privileged cooperation with Cuba's regime. By May, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, acknowledged that the PDCA was under formal review and admitted the mechanism "has not yielded the expected results."
Compounding the situation is Cuba's deteriorating economic landscape. International tourism plummeted by 55.8% during the first four months of 2026, and on June 4th, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed unprecedented direct sanctions on Miguel Díaz-Canel.
In closing his address, Tertsch called for a more robust European stance against the Cuban regime. "This agreement must end, and we must aid in dismantling the dictatorship once and for all. Anything else is complicity with crime," he concluded.
Understanding the European Parliament's Stance on Cuba
What actions has Hermann Tertsch proposed against Cuba?
Hermann Tertsch has called for the European Parliament to take definitive action by suspending the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba, ending European subsidies to the regime, and advocating for the release of political prisoners.
Why is the PDCA under scrutiny by the European Union?
The PDCA is under scrutiny because it has been criticized for not effectively improving human rights in Cuba and for providing the regime with legitimacy and financial resources that may support oppressive activities.
How has the economic situation in Cuba influenced international responses?
Cuba's worsening economic conditions, highlighted by a significant drop in international tourism and sanctions from the U.S., have intensified calls for the international community to reassess and potentially alter their policies towards the Cuban government.