Cuba thaw: is trade taking precedence over human rights?
- 9 years ago
The EU and Cuba have accelerated talks to normalise relations. The US is also ending decades of estrangement as Cuba’s Communist regime allows limited reforms.
EU and US companies see opportunities to do business in Cuba, with a lot of pent-up demand for goods among its 11 million people after years of isolation. But is it all happening too fast? Human Rights Watch says arbitrary arrests of dissidents have increased in recent years. Detainees are often beaten and threatened. How long can the Cuban government continue to keep a lid on democracy? And are the EU and US taking the pressure off? Are economics taking priority over human rights?
At the European Parliament, The Network welcomed Javi López, a socialist MP, and member of the Delegation on the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly; Jimena Reyes, director for America at the International Federation for Human Rights; and Javier Couso, Vice President of the External Affairs Commission on the EP and Unitary Left group.
Chris
EU and US companies see opportunities to do business in Cuba, with a lot of pent-up demand for goods among its 11 million people after years of isolation. But is it all happening too fast? Human Rights Watch says arbitrary arrests of dissidents have increased in recent years. Detainees are often beaten and threatened. How long can the Cuban government continue to keep a lid on democracy? And are the EU and US taking the pressure off? Are economics taking priority over human rights?
At the European Parliament, The Network welcomed Javi López, a socialist MP, and member of the Delegation on the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly; Jimena Reyes, director for America at the International Federation for Human Rights; and Javier Couso, Vice President of the External Affairs Commission on the EP and Unitary Left group.
Chris