Cuba's recent clampdown on political dissidents has devastated ties with the European Union, the European Commission said today.
The Commission, however, declined to prejudge what EU leaders will decide on Cuba's hopes of joining a trade and aid pact with the EU.
"Clearly politically recent events have had a devastating effect," said a spokesman, but added that "at the end of the day it will be up to the member states to judge".
EU foreign ministers last week condemned recent actions by the Cuban authorities, including executions, large-scale arrests of dissidents, unfair trials and the arbitrary and excessive jail terms.
Earlier this month, Havana executed three men who took some 40 people hostage on a commuter ferry, breaking Havana's three-year death penalty moratorium.
In addition prison sentences of up to 28 years were meted out to pro-democracy activists and journalists, in a reversal of a recent tolerant attitude by President Fidel Castro.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro is seeking to join the Cotonou Agreement, a comprehensive aid and trade pact among African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and the EU.
"Let's not prejudge the situation. It may improve from now until June, which is when we are currently estimating that a final decision will have to be made," said the EC spokesman.
AFP