Europe takes the lead on Cuba

The EU's decision to end sanctions against Cuba sends a clear signal – still ignored by the US – that reform there must be nurtured On June 19, the EU voted to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba despite the opposition of countries such as Sweden and the Czech Republic who believe that Raúl Castro has not implemented sufficient reforms to warrant it. Britain, which has traditionally felt the same way, this time joined with Spain and Belgium in supporting the move. According to reports this was not so much a change of heart by the Brown government, but a price it paid for the support of Labour leftwingers in the desperate 42-day detention debate. Nonetheless, the change in Britain's position is widely understood to have been the decisive factor in persuading the remaining naysayers to drop their opposition. The... [read full story]