A group of 14 MEPs, led by Emma Fourreau (The Left) and including members of The Left, Verts/ALE, and S&D groups, has called on the European Commission to condemn the US blockade on Cuba and consider activating the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument in response to escalating sanctions by the Trump administration. The written question, dated 4 June 2026, argues that US extraterritorial measures are coercing European companies into abandoning lawful activities in Cuba, and that the existing Blocking Statute has proven insufficient.
The MEPs point to a new US executive order on 1 May 2026 that targets third-country operators maintaining economic relations with Cuba, particularly in energy, security, and financial sectors, as well as earlier tariff threats against countries supplying oil to the island. They ask the Commission three specific questions: whether it will condemn the blockade, what measures it will take to enforce the Blocking Statute and protect European operators, and whether it intends to activate the Anti-Coercion Instrument as a deterrent.
The Anti-Coercion Instrument, adopted in 2023, allows the EU to respond to economic coercion by third countries with measures such as trade restrictions, tariffs, or suspension of market access. Its activation would signal a significant escalation in EU-US trade tensions. The Commission typically has six weeks to respond to parliamentary questions; its answer will indicate whether it views the US actions as meeting the threshold for coercion and whether it is willing to use the new tool.
Stakeholder impact - European companies with Cuban operations: Could face a choice between complying with US sanctions or risking secondary sanctions, but would gain legal cover if the EU activates the Anti-Coercion Instrument or enforces the Blocking Statute more robustly. - Cuban government and economy: Would benefit from reduced pressure if EU measures deter US extraterritorial enforcement, but remain vulnerable to US sanctions regardless. - EU-US trade relations: Activating the Anti-Coercion Instrument would likely escalate tensions, potentially triggering US retaliation against EU exports, while inaction could be seen as accepting US extraterritoriality. - EU regulatory bodies: The Commission and the European External Action Service would face pressure to balance legal commitments to sovereignty with diplomatic costs of confronting a major trading partner.