Brussels, July 16 (RHC)-- The Puebla Group has expressed its support for the Third Summit of Leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) and criticized the stance of the European Parliament (EP) against Cuba.

"After several years of paralysis of the multilateral dynamics, it is essential to resume political dialogue, social cohesion and strategic approaches between two regions that share values and whose interdependence has increased in recent times for mutual benefit," it said in a statement.

The Group said it hopes that the meeting will open spaces for the visibility of issues of the highest priority for both parties, such as climate change and the defense of democratic values.  In addition, migration governance, the adoption of an alternative scheme against drug abuse, awareness of global warming, the ecological transition and the challenges arising from artificial intelligence, among others.

The Puebla Group emphasized that the world is living a situation marked by war, imminent threats to democracy, the precariousness of migrants' rights, accompanied by rampant xenophobia, and natural catastrophes with devastating effects that make dialogue between regions and nations that recognize each other as peers essential.

"In line with the above, we deplore the EP resolution that echoes the voices of the extreme right in that region to continue applying unilateral sanctions that in addition to violating international law, seek to deepen the unjustifiable policy of isolation to Cuba," the Puebla Group emphasized.

This political and academic forum, integrated by representatives of progressivism and the Latin American political left, celebrates the energetic resistance of European parties that opposed the declaration.

The regional group pointed out that, on the eve of the EU-CELAC meeting, a demonstration of this type hinders a dialogue called to take place between equals.