EU Explanation of Vote – UN General Assembly: Draft Resolution A/81/L.5 on the Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba

President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

We reiterate today our conviction that the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba has adverse economic and humanitarian impact on the Cuban people.

We reaffirm that the UN Charter is and remains the guiding framework, at a moment where Cubans are facing increasingly dire conditions. Humanitarian support and access must be protected under all circumstances.  

While responsibility for its domestic economic policies lies with Cuba, lifting the embargo could make economic reforms more effective and facilitate the further opening of the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people.  

Millions of Cubans today face daily power outages, shortages of medicines and food, collapsing public services, and growing difficulties in accessing even the most basic healthcare. Hospitals struggle to function and the education system is under serious strain. Families spend hours searching for fuel, transport or essential products. In 2026, the EU stepped up its humanitarian assistance to Cuba to 16 million euro, implemented through international partners. The aid focuses on the most vulnerable, prioritising healthcare, emergency food assistance, access to water and energy.

Nevertheless, the decisions made by the Cuban authorities, including longstanding structural weaknesses and inefficiencies in the economic system, lack of economic, judicial and political freedoms, and inadequate investment, have significantly contributed to the current crisis. Cubans, in particular young people, want a better life. They aspire to freedom and opportunity and deserve a brighter future. 

Meaningful political, economic, social and judicial reforms by the Cuban authorities are urgently needed to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people. We call on Cuba to ensure that its reform agenda is implemented in a manner that addresses the key concerns of the Cuban population and meets the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Cuban people for more opportunities to participate in shaping the country's future.

We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Cuba, in particular following the events of July 2021, about the severe judgments issued by Cuban Courts so far, and about the respect of civil and political rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as continuing harassment of independent journalists, human rights defenders and members of civil society. We therefore reiterate our call on the Cuban Government to fully grant its citizens internationally recognized civil, political and economic rights and freedoms – including freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information – to release all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained, to ratify the UN Covenant for Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and to extend a standing invitation to all UN Special Procedures to visit Cuba. Moreover, the EU urges the Cuban authorities to make concrete advances towards opening spaces for a constructive and inclusive dialogue with civil society. 

We take note of the announcement of 176 economic and social measures adopted last June; what matters now is their swift implementation, and that they deliver concrete improvements in economic freedoms and transparency, for the Cuban people. These economic and social reforms need to be accompanied by rule of law, pluralism and democratic reforms, which must include the full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cuban people. 

Our approach to Cuba is grounded on the same principles that guide the European Union's relations with all its partners: respect for international law and the UN Charter, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and the universal protection of human rights. These principles cannot be applied selectively.

We deeply regret that Cuba's position on Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine continues to be inconsistent with the principles of the UN Charter. This was exemplified by its vote against the 24 February 2026 General Assembly resolution on support for a ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine. In this context, the EU once again urges Cuba to refrain from providing any direct or indirect support to Russia’s aggression and to actively take all necessary and effective measures to prevent its nationals from joining Russian armed forces involved in the war.  The EU expects all partners, including Cuba, to align with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity they invoke in other contexts.

Extraterritorial measures negatively affect EU economic interests and the lives of European residents in the island. As a matter of principle, we oppose such measures, due to their extraterritorial application, which is contrary to international law. To protect the interests of natural or legal persons residing in the EU against the extraterritorial application of the Helms-Burton Act, EU law forbids our Member States from implementing that legislation. 

The EU reaffirms its support to dialogue and a diplomatic solution between the US and Cuba, grounded in international law, including the principles of the UN Charter. 

To conclude, 

Neither isolation nor the absence of reform offers a sustainable path forward for Cuba.

The EU will continue its critical yet constructive engagement with Cuba to support the country’s institutional, economic, social and political modernisation, while recalling that the swift implementation of reforms is the responsibility of Cuba. We stand ready to share our experience. We will also continue to support the Cuban population with humanitarian assistance to address its urgent needs. 

But let us be equally clear: humanitarian support alone will not solve Cuba’s crisis.

Important sovereign decisions can no longer be postponed. 

I thank you.