A SENIOR Conservative has condemned the European Union for handing Cuba £133 million and claimed the EU is complicit in the Communist regime’s crackdown on political opponents.
Former Welsh Secretary David Jones said: “The EU should not be funding communist dictators and the despicable crimes they are committing.”
The EU is currently funding 80 projects in Cuba at a cost of £133 million including measures to increase the production of healthy food, provide access to clean water and manufacture ventilators.
Cuba is a one-party state and was led by Fidel Castro for almost 46 years until his death in 2011, when he was replaced by his brother, Raul Castro. The current president is Miguel Díaz-Canel.
According to Amnesty International, nearly 1,000 people remain in prison following a crackdown on protesters in July 2021.
Hundreds of Cubans are also thought to have joined Russia’s armed forces as part of the invasion of Ukraine. Cuba has denied supporting the war but the regime’s critics say it would be impossible for citizens to travel to Russia without government approval. President Díaz-Canel has spoken in support of Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Mr Jones said: “Thankfully the UK is free from the stranglehold of the EU, but I am sure taxpayers across EU Member States will have serious concerns about paying towards the brutal Cuban dictatorship.”
