On 17 June 2026, The Left Group tabled Amendment 11 to the joint motion for a resolution on political repression and the humanitarian situation in Cuba, fundamentally reorienting the text from a critical stance towards the Cuban government to one that defends the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) as a vital framework for engagement. The amendment, authored by 31 MEPs including Danilo Della Valle and Rima Hassan, proposes a new paragraph (1i) that stresses the importance of the PDCA, reaffirms full support for it, and firmly rejects attempts to undermine the agreement.
The original joint motion was tabled by the centre-right and right-wing groups PPE, ECR, and Renew, indicating a clear political divide. The Left's amendment directly challenges the critical narrative of the original text by inserting language that emphasises the PDCA's role in promoting understanding and mutually beneficial relations between the EU and Cuba. The most significant change is the explicit opposition to any moves by EU institutions or Member States to suspend, revise, or weaken the PDCA in response to the situation in Cuba, signalling a defence of the status quo in EU-Cuba relations against any push for a harder line.
The amendment is a proposal still to be examined and voted on in plenary; it does not represent the European Parliament's position. If adopted, it would replace a critical or punitive tone with one of constructive engagement, defending the PDCA as the legitimate and sufficient mechanism for addressing concerns about political repression and the humanitarian situation in Cuba. The Left Group is the sole author of this amendment; no other groups tabled amendments to this specific text.
The amendment impacts several stakeholders. EU institutions would be constrained from escalating criticism or sanctions against Cuba, potentially limiting their ability to respond to human rights concerns. The Cuban government would benefit from a more conciliatory EU stance, reducing diplomatic pressure. Human rights NGOs and civil society groups advocating for stronger EU action on political repression in Cuba would see their position weakened. Conversely, EU businesses and investors with interests in Cuba would gain from continued stable bilateral relations under the PDCA, avoiding potential trade disruptions. The plenary vote on the resolution and amendments is expected to take place later in the June session.
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