resolution motion, 14 September 2026
On Political prisoners in Cuba, the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro,
Motion B-10-2026-0400 · (2026/2874(RSP))
on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Marco Tarquinio
- Voted on Thursday, 17 September 2026 · Adopted 374 for, 198 against, 19 abstained · See the decision →
- Where the law stands · dossier 2026/2874 →
AI:In short
Parliament's resolution calls on Cuba to release all people detained for peacefully exercising their rights, including Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro, and to respect fair trial rights. It asks Cuba to guarantee freedom of expression and assembly, end harassment of activists and journalists, and carry out democratic, economic and institutional reforms, including changes to the Penal Code and the Social Communication Law. It calls on Cuba to cooperate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and give independent human rights and humanitarian organisations unhindered access. It condemns the US embargo and asks the US administration to lift it, remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and end extraterritorial sanctions. It urges the EU and its member states to engage Cuba at the highest level, increase humanitarian aid, and use the PDCA to pursue dialogue, with monitoring by the Commission and the EEAS.
Key points
- The resolution states that Cuba faces shortcomings in democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, alongside shortages of food, medicines, energy and other essential goods.
- It notes that Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro remain imprisoned after the July 2021 protests, and that Félix Navarro's conditional release in January 2025 was revoked in April 2025.
- It finds the human rights situation alarming, especially for dissidents and vulnerable groups including women, Afro-descendants and LGBTIQ+ persons, and cites restrictions on fundamental freedoms and imprisonment of activists, journalists and peaceful protesters.
- It calls on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all persons detained solely for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression, association and assembly, including Félix Navarro and Saylí Navarro, and to ensure the right to a fair trial.
- It calls on the Cuban authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and to end harassment and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, journalists, civil society and dissidents.
- It calls on the Cuban authorities to undertake meaningful democratic, economic and institutional reforms, including of the Penal Code and the Social Communication Law, strengthen transparency and improve essential services.
- It calls on Cuba to fully cooperate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and grant unhindered access to independent human rights and humanitarian organisations.
- It expresses grave concern at the deterioration of living conditions in Cuba and the consequences of shortages of electricity, medicines, fuel and essential services.
- It strongly condemns the US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and calls for its lifting.
- It calls on the US administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, end the extraterritorial application of US sanctions, respect Cuba's national sovereignty and refrain from any attempt at regime change or military intervention.
- It urges the EU and its member states to engage the Cuban authorities up to the highest level to deliver on their human rights commitments and to increase humanitarian assistance to Cuba.
- It calls on the Commission and the EEAS to monitor the humanitarian and human rights situation and use the PDCA to pursue meaningful dialogue and progress.
Who is affected
- Cuba's authorities, which are asked to release detainees, guarantee freedoms, reform laws and cooperate with international bodies.
- Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro, whose release the resolution calls for.
- Human rights defenders, journalists, civil society and dissidents in Cuba, whom the resolution says face harassment and arbitrary detention.
- The US administration, which is asked to lift the embargo, remove Cuba from the terrorism list and end extraterritorial sanctions.
- The EU and its member states, which are urged to engage Cuba at the highest level and increase humanitarian assistance.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 17 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 16 paragraphs
B100400/2026
European Parliament resolution on Political prisoners in Cuba, the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro,
(2026/2874(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Cuba continues to face serious shortcomings in terms of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, while at the same time experiencing a dramatic humanitarian and socio-economic situation, characterised by shortages of food, medicines, energy and other essential goods, which is caused and aggravated by a combination of internal structural and policy factors and external factors, including the illegal sanctions imposed since January 2026 by the administration of Donald Trump, in addition to the long-standing United States embargo repeatedly condemned by the United Nations and by all the EU members states;
B. Whereas Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro remain imprisoned following the July 2021 protests, and the conditional release of Félix Navarro in January 2025 was revoked in April 2025 following further threats, harassment and arbitrary detention;
C. Whereas the human rights situation remains alarming, particularly for dissidents and vulnerable groups, including women, Afro-descendants and LGBTIQ+ persons; whereas international organisations have documented restrictions on fundamental freedoms, arbitrary detention, harassment and imprisonment of activists, journalists, peaceful protesters, and people who criticize the regime; whereas the lack of political pluralism limits democratic participation;
Calls on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all persons detained solely for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression, association and assembly, including Félix Navarro and Saylí Navarro, and ensure respect for the right to a fair trial;
Calls on the Cuban authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, end harassment and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, journalists, civil society, dissidents;
Calls on the Cuban authorities to undertake meaningful democratic, economic and institutional reforms, including the Penal Code and the Social Communication Law, strengthen transparency, improve essential services;
Calls on Cuba to fully cooperate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and grant unhindered access to independent human rights and humanitarian organisations;
Expresses grave concern at the deterioration of living conditions in Cuba and the consequences of shortages of electricity, medicines, fuel and essential services;
Strongly condemns the US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and calls for its lifting; calls on the US administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, end the extraterritorial application of US sanctions, respect Cuba’s national sovereignty and refrain from any attempt at regime change or military intervention;
Urges the EU and its Member States to engage the Cuban authorities up to the highest level to deliver on their human rights commitments and to increase humanitarian assistance to Cuba; calls on the Commission and EEAS to monitor the humanitarian and human rights situation and use the PDCA to pursue meaningful dialogue and progress;
Instructs its President to send this resolution to the Cuban Government and National Assembly, the US Government and Congress, EU Member States, the VP/HR, and the Commission.