CUBA’S foreign minister slammed today the preparations being made for the summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU).

The third summit of heads of state and government of CELAC and the EU is set to take place in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on July 17 and 18.

Rodriguez Parrilla said: “The reality is that, beyond speeches and declarations, no progress has been made in bi-regional ties and, in the last period, they have even regressed.”

Mr Parrilla said that the summit was an opportunity “to begin to change this scenario.” 

But, he said: “The lack of transparency and the manipulative behaviour of the European Union in the preparation of the summit seriously jeopardise the success of the meeting.”

The foreign minister said that attempts were being made to impose secret, restrictive, divisive formats that make direct and transparent discussions impossible.  

He said: “The European side even decides on its own who will be the representatives of our region at these events,” which he describes as “disrespectful.”

“CELAC is the solid and united voice of Latin America and the Caribbean and must be respected,” he said.

But Mr Parrilla was confident that attempts to undermine the CELAC participants in the summit would fail.

“Those who try to impose a biased pro-European vision on the bi-regional relationship, pretending to ignore the priorities and interests of our region, will have no chance of success in Brussels,” he said.

He said: “We aspire to a summit that allows us to expand inclusive and mutually advantageous cooperation in high priority areas, such as financing for development, tackling climate change, food security, and renewable energy, among others.”

Mr Parrilla said that Cuba will go to the summit in “a constructive spirit and will contribute as much as possible to strengthen, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, dialogue and co-operation.”