The EU on Wednesday demanded that Cuban President Fidel Castro end his political crackdown on opposition groups or face further isolation.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, whose country holds the EU presidency, told the European Parliament that the human rights situation on the Caribbean island continues to deteriorate.
"We ... do hope that we will see a change of attitude from the Cuban side," Frattini said. "The Cuban government has not taken a single positive step to meet the goals that Europe has set and, in fact, the situation of human rights has worsened yet further."
Frattini said the latest reports received from dissidents and other media sources in Cuba alleged that Castro's political crackdown was continuing unabated.
"Internet access is still being circumscribed... satellite TV receivers are being seized, foreign newspapers are being confiscated, as are radio transmission sets, so things are becoming very tight in Cuba," he said.
Frattini said the 15-nation EU would continue to protest Castro's crackdown on dissidents but would still offer humanitarian aid to Cuba's impoverished people, despite comments made by Castro rejecting European aid to his country.
In July, the Cuban leader said his country would no longer accept EU aid, accusing the EU of backing the US' anti-Castro policy.
Castro's statement move came after EU-Cuban relations hit an all time low in June when the EU decided to review its relations with Cuba's communist government following a crackdown on democratic protesters.
In a joint resolution expected to be passed by the 626-member EU assembly yesterday, the parliament calls on Cuba to "take all necessary steps to ensure the immediate release" of political prisoners. It also said it "regrets the closure of the Spanish cultural center," which was closed by authorities in Havana in July.
EU members have already agreed to reduce high-level governmental visits to the island and participation in cultural events there.
The European nations also agreed to invite dissidents to national holiday celebrations at their embassies in Havana as a sign of support for Cuba's opposition.
"Developments have taken a very negative turn," said EU Development Commissioner Poul Nielson. He added that the EU "intends to continue dialogue with Havana, to promote political dialogue and civil rights.
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