EP resolutions

European Parliament resolution of 16 Dec 2021 on the situation in Cuba, namely the cases of José Daniel Ferrer, Lady in White Aymara Nieto, Maykel Castillo, Luis Robles, Félix Navarro, Luis Manuel Otero, Reverend Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, Andy Dunier García and Yunior García Aguilera

MEPs denounce in the strongest terms the ongoing systematic abuses against protestors, political dissidents, religious leaders, human rights activists and independent artists, among others, in Cuba.In particular, the resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional release of José Daniel Ferrer, "Lady in White" Aymara Nieto, Maykel Castillo, Luis Robles, Félix Navarro, Luis Manuel Otero, Reverend Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo and Andy Dunier García, and all those detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The text notes, however, that these individuals are but a few examples of the hundreds of Cubans facing injustice and repression imposed by the country's government.

The government crackdown on protests and citizens in Cuba

Parliament condemns in the strongest possible terms the extreme violence against and repression of protesters, human rights defenders, independent journalists, artists, dissidents and opposition political leaders by the Cuban government in the aftermath of the large-scale protests on 11 July this year. These demonstrations saw thousands of Cubans take to the streets in over 40 towns to peacefully protest against the chronic shortage of medicines and other essential goods, the general mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the systematic restrictions on human rights in the country.

MEPs call on the Cuban authorities to cease repression, release all political prisoners and guarantee due process. They also deplore the fact that the Cuban authorities have used the wave of recent detentions to "criminalise the legitimate and peaceful democratic demands of its population".

Human rights and political situation in Cuba

The European Parliament strongly condemns the existence of political prisoners, the persistent and permanent political persecution, acts of harassment and arbitrary detentions of dissidents in Cuba; also condemns the current attacks against artists of the San Isidro Movement, peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and members of the political opposition; calls for an immediate end to these actions and urges the Cuban authorities immediately to release all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained solely on the grounds of exercising their freedom of expression and assembly;

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Cuba, the case of José Daniel Ferrer

The European Parliament condemns the arbitrary detention of José Daniel Ferrer, opposition leader of the umbrella group for Cuban dissident organisations 'Patriotic Union of Cuba', held since 1 October. Calling on the Cuban authorities to release him immediately, MEPs also denounce the torture and ill-treatment that Mr Ferrer is reported to have suffered.

MEPs are greatly concerned about the general human rights situation in the country, including the continuous persecution, harassment, attacks against peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition in Cuba. They call for an immediate end to these actions. The current 'Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement' (PDCA) between the EU and Cuba includes a provision to suspend the agreement in the event of human rights violations. MEPs therefore urge the European Union to continue following the developments in the country closely.
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Cuba must end state attacks on peaceful dissidents, journalists and civil society

Cuba must end the arbitrary detention, persecution and harassment of peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and the political opposition, say MEPs.

They regret that, despite the adopted EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), the situation regarding human rights and democracy in the country has not improved. The European Parliament reminds the Cuban authorities that the PDCA includes a provision to suspend the agreement in the event of human rights violations, and calls on the European Commission to closely monitor this issue.

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The European Parliament adopted by 497 votes to 107, with 79 abstentions, a resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the EU, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

Reiterating the high strategic value of the relationship between the EU and Cuba, Parliament welcomed the signing in Brussels, on 12 December 2016, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the EU and Cuba. It considered that it constitutes an instrument that will offer a new framework for relations between the EU and Cuba.
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Emphasising the importance of the human rights dialogue between the EU and Cuba, Members reiterated that the EU's policy towards Cuba include the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and facilitating the economic and social modernisation aimed at improving the living standards of the Cuban population.
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