2023-06-202022/23:UU10 · p.14UUForeign affairs
Cuba
The EU-Cuba agreement: evaluation and reconsidered ratification
What's at stake: The outcome affects how the EU's cooperation agreement is used as leverage for democracy and human rights in Cuba, and could affect the ongoing relationship between the EU and the Cuban government.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should evaluate the EU's agreement with Cuba on political dialogue and cooperation and reconsider its ratification if the agreement has not led to necessary change, or whether current engagement should continue unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that Sweden's and the EU's continued engagement on Cuba already covers the issues raised in the motions, and does not see grounds for making the agreement conditional on a mandated evaluation, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 21 (C)
The reservation calls for the government to evaluate the content, implementation, and effects of the EU-Cuba agreement on political dialogue and cooperation, to determine whether the agreement's aims have been achieved and have led to necessary change in Cuba. If the evaluation shows this is not the case, the reservation holds that Sweden must reconsider ratifying the agreement.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 21 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Abstain 1/0/20/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/1/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/2/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| VSamuel Gonzalez Westling (V, Gävleborgs län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SLouise Thunström (S, Västra Götalands läns norra) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
| MPJan Riise (MP, Hallands län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
| MPMarielle Lahti (MP, Södermanlands län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:849 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) item 33, and 2022/23:1744 by Markus Wiechel et al. (SD) items 1-3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:849 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 33 och 2022/23:1744 av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1-3.
Riksdag decision: Parliament directed an instruction, a so-called tillkännagivande (formal request), to the government to actively work to create consensus within the EU to list the state-sponsored Russian so-called Wagner group as a terrorist organisation under the EU's counter-terrorism sanctions. In connection with the tillkännagivande, Parliament also highlights that there is likely a need to upgrade the EU's regulations on terrorist listing so that it can better address threats from actors with state connections. According to current regulations, terrorist listing requires that a group is subject to legal proceedings for terrorism offences. There must therefore be an ongoing or concluded legal process. The tillkännagivande came in connection with Parliament's review of a letter from the government on activities in the European Union during 2022 with accompanying motions, including on sanctions against Russia. Parliament rejected the motions and laid the letter to the records, that is, closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to emphasize EU's role and value for addressing cross-border challenges. (C) — Reservation 21
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan establishes that the North has no right to force through its policy with pressure on the South and that cooperation and aid should be given without self-serving reservations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the North has no right to force through its policy with pressure on the South and that cooperation and aid should be given without self-serving reservations. It also generally opposes proposals that increase the EU's power. Conditioning and possibly reconsidering the ratification of the EU agreement with Cuba based on a prescribed evaluation runs counter to these commitments, even though the plan supports democratisation that grows from below.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Nord inte har rätt att tvinga igenom sin politik med påtryckningar på Syd och att samarbete och bistånd ska ges utan egennyttiga förbehåll. Den motsätter sig också generellt förslag som ökar EU:s makt. Att villkora och eventuellt ompröva ratificeringen av EU:s avtal med Kuba utifrån en föreskriven utvärdering strider mot dessa åtaganden, även om planen stöder demokratisering som växer underifrån.
- no pressure on the Southdecisive»tvinga igenom sin politik med våld och påtryckningar på Syd och« (party programme ↗)“force through its policy with violence and pressure on the South and”
- cooperation without reservations»Internationellt bistånd ska ges till fattiga länder utan egennyttiga« (party programme ↗)“International aid should be given to poor countries without self-serving”
- against increased EU power»I det dagliga arbetet motsätter sig Vänsterpartiet generellt förslag som ökar EU:s makt« (party programme ↗)“In daily work the Left Party generally opposes proposals that increase the EU's power”
- democratisation from below»Vi stödjer alltid demokratisering som växer« (party programme ↗)“We always support democratisation that grows”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that the EU's agreements with third countries are guided by values about social dialogue, human rights and environment, and the party programme wants to widen the circle of democracies and support the movements fighting for it.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the EU's agreements with third countries are guided by values about social dialogue, human rights and environment, and the party programme wants to widen the circle of democracies and support the movements fighting for it. Evaluating whether the EU's agreement with Cuba has actually led to change is one way to test precisely this. The plan's emphasis on dialogue and cooperation as tools makes reconsideration of the ratification an uncertain step.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att EU:s avtal med tredjeland vägleds av värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö, och partiprogrammet vill vidga kretsen av demokratier och stödja de rörelser som kämpar för det. Att utvärdera om EU:s avtal med Kuba faktiskt lett till förändring är ett sätt att pröva just detta. Planens betoning av dialog och samarbete som verktyg gör dock omprövning av ratificeringen till ett osäkert steg.
- values guide agreementsdecisive»EU behöver sluta fler handelsavtal där också våra värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU needs to conclude more trade agreements where also our values about social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding.”
- support for democracy movements»demokratier och ge ett tydligt stöd till de rörelser som kämpar för detta.« (party programme ↗)“democracies and give clear support to the movements fighting for it.”
- EU as solidary actor»Vi vill att EU ska vara pådrivande i det internationella solidaritetsarbetet, både genom att« (party programme ↗)“We want the EU to be a driving force in international solidarity work, both through”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that human rights, peaceful conflict resolution and conflict prevention be placed first in the EU's aid and foreign policy and places international law at the center.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that human rights, peaceful conflict resolution and conflict prevention be placed first in the EU's aid and foreign policy and places international law at the center. Evaluating whether the agreement with Cuba has actually led to change is a means of testing precisely this. The plan also emphasizes respect and responsiveness to recipient countries' own democratically made decisions, which makes the conclusion derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att mänskliga rättigheter, fredlig konflikthantering och konfliktförebyggande sätts i första rummet för EU:s bistånds- och utrikespolitik och sätter folkrätten i centrum. Att utvärdera om avtalet med Kuba faktiskt lett till förändring är ett medel för att pröva just detta. Planen betonar samtidigt respekt och lyhördhet för mottagarländernas egna demokratiskt fattade beslut, vilket gör slutsatsen härledd och osäker.
- HR first in EU's foreign policydecisive»Mänskliga rättigheter, fredlig konflikthantering och en konfliktförebyggande politik« (party programme ↗)“Human rights, peaceful conflict resolution and conflict prevention policy”
- international law and HR at center»Miljöpartiet de gröna sätter folkrätten och de« (party programme ↗)“The Greens place international law and”
- respect for recipient countries»egen kultur och demokratiskt fattade beslut måste« (party programme ↗)“own culture and democratically made decisions must”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that foreign policy ultimately aims to protect universal freedoms and rights and that stricter requirements must be placed in agreements with other countries.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that foreign policy ultimately aims to protect universal freedoms and rights and that stricter requirements must be placed in agreements with other countries. Evaluating whether the EU's agreement with Cuba has actually led to change, and reconsidering ratification if not, follows from not compromising on ideals. The plan values dialogue and cooperation as means, which argues for evaluation rather than suspension.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att utrikespolitiken ytterst syftar till att värna universella fri- och rättigheter och att hårdare krav ska ställas i avtal med andra länder. Att utvärdera om EU:s avtal med Kuba faktiskt lett till förändring, och att ompröva ratificeringen om så inte är fallet, följer av att vi inte får kompromissa med idealen. Planen värdesätter samtidigt dialog och samarbete som medel, vilket talar för utvärdering snarare än avbrott.
- human rights as aim of foreign policydecisive»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human freedoms and rights.”
- stricter requirements in agreements»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set stricter requirements for working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- do not compromise on ideals»Vi lever i en tid då diktaturerna och dess företrädare retirerar, men där en stor del av världens befolkning fortfarande lever i förtryck.« (party programme ↗)“We live in a time when dictatorships and their representatives are retreating, but a large part of the world's population still lives in oppression.”
- dialogue and cooperation as means»Dagens internationella ekonomiska beroende ökar betydelsen av fredsinsatser, samarbete och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“Today's international economic dependence increases the importance of peace efforts, cooperation and dialogue.”
The plan makes democracy and human rights governing conditions in the EU's agreements with third countries and wants Sweden to be a voice for global freedom and supports those working for democratization of remaining dictatorships.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes democracy and human rights governing conditions in the EU's agreements with third countries and wants Sweden to be a voice for global freedom and supports those working for democratization of remaining dictatorships. Evaluating whether the EU's agreements with Cuba have actually led to change, and reconsidering ratification if not, is an application of precisely that conditionality line. Cuba is not mentioned in the plan, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter till styrande villkor i EU:s avtal med tredjeland och vill att Sverige är en röst för global frihet och stöder dem som verkar för demokratisering av kvarvarande diktaturer. Att utvärdera om EU:s avtal med Kuba faktiskt lett till förändring, och ompröva ratificeringen om inte, är en tillämpning av just den villkorslinjen. Kuba nämns inte i planen, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- democracy conditions in EU agreementsdecisive»EU:s grannskapsavtal med unionens grannar söderut måste innehålla samma krav på demokrati och« (party programme ↗)“The EU's neighbourhood agreements with the union's southern neighbours must contain the same demands for democracy and”
- support for democratic forces»Sverige ska vara en röst för global frihet och ge stöd åt de modiga människor som verkar för demokratisering« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a voice for global freedom and provide support to the courageous people working for democratization”
- values-driven foreign policy»Vi kallar det för vad det är: en ny värderingsstyrd utrikespolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We call it what it is: a new values-driven foreign policy.”
- consequences for rights violations»Systematiska kränkningar av medborgarnas« (party programme ↗)“Systematic violations of citizens'”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan makes human rights a main objective for foreign policy, advocates dialogue and positive means of influence first and foremost, and requires clear instruments for steering and monitoring collaborations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes human rights a main objective for foreign policy, advocates dialogue and positive means of influence first and foremost, and requires clear instruments for steering and monitoring collaborations. Evaluating whether the agreement with Cuba has actually led to change is monitoring in that spirit, while reconsideration of ratification lies further from the plan's dialogue line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör mänskliga rättigheter till huvudmål för utrikespolitiken, förordar dialog och positiva verkningsmedel i första hand och kräver tydliga instrument för styrning och uppföljning av samarbeten. Att utvärdera om avtalet med Kuba faktiskt lett till förändring är en uppföljning i den andan, medan omprövning av ratificeringen ligger längre från planens dialoglinje.
- HR as foreign policy objectivedecisive»Människovärdet ska stå i fokus och arbetet för att skydda och värna mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“Human dignity shall be in focus and work to protect and uphold human freedoms and rights”
- monitoring of collaborations»Det måste finnas tydliga instrument för styrning,« (party programme ↗)“There must be clear instruments for steering,”
- dialogue first and foremost»positiva verkningsmedel användas, som till exempel finansiellt stöd, samarbetsprojekt, samtal och dialoger för att främja mänskliga rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“positive means of influence are used, such as financial support, collaborative projects, conversations and dialogues to promote human rights.”
- bilateral HR dialogue»En dialog om mänskliga rättigheter bör även föras« (party programme ↗)“A dialogue on human rights should also be conducted”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that Swedish values regarding democracy, rule of law and individual freedom should to a greater extent guide Sweden's international engagement and that tax money should not end up with undemocratic leaders or be channelled uncritically.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that Swedish values regarding democracy, rule of law and individual freedom should to a greater extent guide Sweden's international engagement and that tax money should not end up with undemocratic leaders or be channelled uncritically. Evaluating EU's agreement with Cuba and reconsidering ratification if objectives are not achieved follows from that results and reconsideration line. Therefore, the plan supports the demand on the merits.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att svenska värderingar om demokrati, rättsstat och individuell frihet i högre grad ska styra Sveriges omvärldsengagemang och att skattemedel inte ska hamna hos odemokratiska ledare eller kanaliseras okritiskt. Att utvärdera EU:s avtal med Kuba och ompröva ratificeringen om syftena inte uppnås följer av den resultat- och omprövningslinjen. Planen stöder därför kravet i sak.
- values guide foreign policydecisive»Svenska intressen och värderingar om demokrati, rättsstat och individuell frihet ska i högre grad styra valet av biståndsinsatser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish interests and values regarding democracy, rule of law and individual freedom should to a greater extent guide the choice of aid initiatives.”
- no uncritical channelling»Dina skattepengar ska inte försvinna i korruption eller hamna i fickorna på odemokratiska ledare, och inte heller okritiskt kanaliseras i ökande volymer genom oreformerade FN-organ som brister i transparens och uppföljning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Your tax money must not disappear in corruption or end up in the pockets of undemocratic leaders, and must not either be channelled uncritically in increasing volumes through unreformed UN organs that lack transparency and accountability.”
- strong voice for democracy»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihet, demokrati och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and”
- evaluate and reconsider»i ljuset av ny kunskap ständigt är redo att vårda, utvärdera« (party programme ↗)“in light of new knowledge constantly is ready to care for, evaluate”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto demands that Sweden make greater distinctions in its stance towards democratic values and cease support to states without genuine rule-of-law aspirations, and that international initiatives be evaluated and distributed according to concrete results against predetermined goals.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands that Sweden make greater distinctions in its stance towards democratic values and cease support to states without genuine rule-of-law aspirations, and that international initiatives be evaluated and distributed according to concrete results against predetermined goals. The plan also wants Sweden to be a clear voice for the Western democratic model. Evaluating the EU's Cuba Agreement and reconsidering ratification if the aims have not been met therefore follows the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att Sverige gör större åtskillnad i sin hållning till demokratiska värden och upphör med stöd till stater utan genuin rättsstatlig strävan, och att internationella insatser utvärderas och fördelas efter konkreta resultat mot i förväg fastställda mål. Planen vill också att Sverige är en tydlig röst för den västerländska demokratimodellen. Att utvärdera EU:s Kubaavtal och ompröva ratificeringen om syftena inte nåtts följer därför planens linje.
- conditional support to undemocratic statesdecisive»Sverige bör göra större åtskillnad i sin hållning till demokratiska värden och upphöra med finansiellt eller politiskt stöd till länder eller rörelser som varken bidrar till svenskarnas intressen eller har en genuin sekulär rättsstatlig strävan eller respekt för mänskliga fri- och rättigheter för alla oberoende av kön, religion eller sexuell läggning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should make greater distinctions in its stance towards democratic values and cease financial or political support to countries or movements that neither contribute to Swedes' interests nor have a genuine secular rule-of-law aspiration or respect for human freedoms and rights for all regardless of sex, religion or sexual orientation.”
- results-based allocation against goals»Men biståndsanslag måste bättre kunna följas ända till slutmottagaren och fördelas utifrån konkreta resultat utifrån i förväg fastställda mål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But development aid appropriations must be better traceable all the way to the end recipient and distributed on the basis of concrete results against predetermined goals.”
- evaluate initiatives»Effektivisera och utvärdera det svenska biståndet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Streamline and evaluate Swedish development aid”
- voice for democracy»Vara en tydlig röst för den västerländska demokratimodellen och mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Be a clear voice for the Western democratic model and human freedoms and rights”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU10)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1288 — Lagstiftning om ekocid av Anna Vikström och Mathias Tegnér (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1366 — En ny svensk Israelpolitik av Mikael Oscarsson och Magnus Oscarsson (båda KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1455 — Fred i Palestina av Jacob Risberg och Bassem Nasr (båda MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1615 — Belarus av Martin Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1744 — Kuba av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1749 — Sverigedemokraternas biståndspolitik av Mats Nordberg m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1752 — Demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter i utrikespolitiken av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1764 — Säkerhetspolitik av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1769 — Mellanöstern av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1804 — Balkankonferens för handel och försoning av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1879 — En fokuserad utvecklingsagenda bortom 2030 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1960 — Ekocid som brott vid ICC i Haag av Gunilla Carlsson (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1965 — Åtgärder mot regimen i Iran av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2040 — Omprövning av Iranpolitiken av Azadeh Rojhan m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2048 — Skärpning av EU:s sanktioner mot regimen i Belarus av Mikael Oscarsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:2247 — Iran av Alireza Akhondi och Martin Ådahl (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:2278 — Initiativ till ekocidlagstiftning av Rebecka Le Moine (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2364 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:115 Verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2022 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:53 — Hbtqi-frågor i världen av Lotta Johnsson Fornarve m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament