Speaking during a UN General Assembly debate, the European ambassador stated that the extraterritorial sanctions Washington has imposed for nearly seven decades on those trading with Havana disrupt the economic interests of the European bloc.

“United States extraterritorial measures against Cuba negatively affect EU economic interests and violate generally accepted international trade norms designed to protect legal entities or individuals residing in member states from the application of the Helms-Burton Act,” declared Lambrinidis, who is also a former Vice-President of the European Parliament.

In this regard, he stressed that EU legislation prohibits member states from applying that law; however, he acknowledged that some governments do enforce US blockade regulations within their own jurisdictions.

He highlighted that the EU reaffirms its support for dialogue to achieve a political solution between the North American nation and the Caribbean island, based on international law.

Lambrinidis emphasized that the bloc recognizes the negative humanitarian impact of these stifling actions on the Cuban people and affirmed that the UN Charter must serve as the guiding principle at a time when society in Cuba—the largest of the Antilles—is facing increasingly dire conditions.

“We are ready to share our experiences, and we will also continue to support the Cuban population with humanitarian assistance to meet their urgent needs,” Lambrinidis concluded.

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