MADRID, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government has issued a communique saying it believes that the extraterritorial application of Title III sanctions goes against international law.
The statement was issued after the announcement by the United States that U.S. President Donald Trump will not renew the suspension of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which punishes trade relations with Cuba, including those maintained by non-U.S. companies.
The Spanish government has warned that the tightening of the economic blockade of Cuba announced by the United States will harm the democratization of the island, while also contravening international law.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation indicated that Spain considers that the application of Title III "does not contribute to the common goal of continuing to promote democracy, political openness and human rights in Cuba."
The statement also strongly rejects "this decision taken by the U.S. Administration, and invites them (the United States) to continue working together with Spain and the European Union in favor of political and democratic reform in Cuba."
Spain believes that the decision to "deter and penalize" trade and investments from other countries with Cuba "undermines the interests of Spain and other European partners in Cuba, and leads to a deterioration of bilateral relations between allied countries as well as seriously harming the welfare of the Cuban population."
The document also points out that the EU "is actively working" to adopt the "appropriate measures in multilateral forums," to defend the interests and the future of Spanish and European companies in Cuba.
Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which comes into effect on May 2, allows U.S. citizens of Cuban origin to reclaim properties confiscated in the 1959 revolution.
According to local media, this could cause major problems for several Spanish companies, especially in the hotel sector.
Madrid considers that the extraterritorial application of the legislation "will give rise to a spiral of demands and counter-demands that will cloud the transatlantic economic relationship without any advantage or advance, either for the U.S. plaintiffs or for the Cuban population."
Spain has close historical ties with the island country, which was colonized by Spanish explorers in 1511 and remained a Spanish colony until 1898.
Currently, Spain and Cuba enjoy good political relations that were strengthened by the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Cuba last November.
According to data of the Institute of Foreign Trade, 2018 saw Spain export goods worth 971 million euros (1,091 million U.S. dollars) to Cuba.
