MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

17.9.2024 - (2024/2805(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

Susanna Ceccardi, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Hermann Tertsch, Jorge Martín Frías, Klara Dostalova, Ondřej Knotek, Jaroslav Bžoch, Jana Nagyová, Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová, Nikola Bartůšek
on behalf of the PfE Group

B10‑0042/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

(2024/2805(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Cuba,

- having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Cuba is an authoritarian regime with more than 1,000 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience arbitrarily detained;

B.  whereas on 5 July 2017, Parliament gave its consent to the PDCA, which includes a suspension clause in case of violation of human rights provisions;

C. whereas José Daniel Ferrer García is a Cuban human rights activist,  one of the leaders of the dissident movement in the interior of the island since the death of Osvaldo Pavà, in July 2012”;

D. whereas Mr Ferrer was detained during the Black Spring crackdown of March 2003 and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for being one of the main promoters of the Varela Project;

 

E.  whereas Mr Ferrer is the founder of UNPACU, becoming a leading opposition movement in Cuba against the communist regime and advocates for a non-violent democratic transition through political activism;

 

F.  whereas the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation awarded Mr Ferrer the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom in 2020;

 

1.  Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Jose Daniel Ferrer, and all those arbitrarily detained;

2. In the meantime, calls on the Cuban authorities to provide the necessary medical attendance to Mr. Ferrer, is concerned that, as per a letter sent to Members of European Parliament from the family of Mr Ferrer, his life is in grave danger due to the jailed conditions he is living in;

3.  Condemns the systematic human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by the Cuban regime against protesters, political dissidents, religious leaders, human rights activists, among others and urges the Cuban authorities to immediately put an end to the policy of repression, condemns the lack of religion freedom and reiterates its support for the Cuban people and for all human rights defenders persecuted by the regime;

4 Disapproves of the passive and irresponsible attitude of EEAS under the direction of the HR/VP, Josep Borrell, ignoring or banalizing the outcry of the Cuban people;

5. Reiterates its call on the Council to adopt sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Cuba as soon as possible; demands the immediate cessation of all financial aid from the EU to Cuba;

6  Urges to the EU to introduce the application of article 85, paragraph 3, letter b), and immediately suspend the PDCA between the EU and Cuba;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.