Statement from the Communist Party of Ireland on the “European Parliament” Resolution calling on the EU to impose sanctions on Cuba

The Communist Party of Ireland condemns the resolution passed by the “European Parliament”  calling on the EU to impose sanctions on Cuba. In particular we condemn the support given to this resolution by a number of Irish MEPs.

The proposed sanctions have no basis in international law and are in fact aggressive illegal acts of hybrid warfare. In a blatant example of victim blaming, the resolution blames the Cuban government for ongoing electricity cuts, inability to import medicines or oil, all of which have combined to create a crisis for the Cuban people. The resolution made no mention of the decades long and intensifying US embargo on Cuba which has itself been condemned as illegal by the UN General Assembly.

These MEPs who voted in favour of the resolution do not represent the views of the Irish people nor the Irish anti-colonial struggle to which their parties give lip service. The Irish labour and trade union movement must demand the lifting of the illegal US blockade and force the Irish government to go beyond support for UN motions condemning the blockade and send material support to the Cuban people.