A senior Tory MP has blasted Brussels for bankrolling Communist Cuba’s crackdown on democracy and free speech.
Havana has also been accused of lending its support to Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The European Union has been funding Cuba’s communist dictatorship for almost 40 years, new analysis has shown.
Brussels' bill exceeded €300million (£256.4million), with current funding of 80 projects standing at €155million (£132.5million).
A senior Tory MP has blasted Brussels for bankrolling Communist Cuba’s crackdown on democracy and free speech
GETTY
The projects have close links with Raul Castro’s regime and EU funds have even gone directly to institutions in Havana.
Cuba imprisoned more than 1,400 political prisoners, tortured opponents and carried out extrajudicial killings.
A staggering 1,905 people have been detained and dozens have been sent to labour camps since 2021.
Cuba has even been accused of sending 5,000 troops to assist Putin’s efforts in Ukraine.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Prominent Brexiteer David Jones blasted Brussels over its bankrolling of Havana
PAHavana declared its full support for Moscow immediately after Russian soldiers entered the ex-Soviet state.
Cuban representatives have also consistently voted against measures to assist Ukraine in the United Nations.
Ex-Welsh Secretary David Jones, who now serves as deputy chairman of the Brexit-backing European Research Group, said: “The EU should not be funding communist dictators and the despicable crimes they are committing.
“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.”
The European Parliament meets for a sessionGETTYJones' comments come after MEPs passed several resolutions acknowledging Castro regime has been ramping up repression against the Cuban population.
Brussels also found Havana committed gross human rights violations with the incarceration of peaceful demonstrators, including underage Cubans and women.
An open letter from more than 80 politicians put pressure on Brussels to stop financing Castro’s regime in Havana.
A recent open letter of more than 80 politicians urged the EU to stop financing the Cuban regime and to end its clearly non-functional The Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) which aimed to improve human rights in Cuba.
Cubans are seen outside Havana's Capitol during a demonstration against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana
GETTY
Commenting, Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, Secretary of the Cuban Democratic Directorate said: “The EU claims to support and protect human rights while simultaneously funding the Cuban dictatorship.
“It claims to back Ukraine but finances a regime that diplomatically, financially, and militarily supports Russian and Belarusian efforts to destroy Ukraine.
“This outrageous situation must not be allowed to continue. The EU needs to immediately end all financial ties to Cuba’s repressive regime.”