MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
25.1.2006
pursuant to Rule 108(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Michał Tomasz Kamiński
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the EU's policy towards the Cuban Government
B6‑0079/2006
European Parliament resolution on the EU's policy towards the Cuban Government
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its earlier resolutions on the situation in Cuba,
– having regard to the EU Presidency statements of 26 March 2003 and 5 June 2003 concerning the detention of dissidents and members of the opposition in Cuba and concerning the relevant measures adopted unanimously by the European Union,
– having regard to the 13 June 2005 General Affairs Council conclusions,
– having regard to EU Common Position 96/697/CFSP on Cuba, which was adopted on 2 December 1996 and has been periodically updated,
– having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas protecting the universality and the indivisibility of human rights – including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights – is still one of the EU's main principles,
B. whereas the Cuban authorities continue to treat as criminal offences non-violent activities such as meetings to discuss the economy or elections, writing letters to the government, reporting on political or economic developments, speaking to international reporters or advocating the release of political prisoners,
C. whereas Cuban courts continue to try and imprison human rights activists, independent journalists, economists, doctors and others for the peaceful expression of their views, subjecting them to the Cuban prison system's extremely poor conditions, and whereas some of them are seriously ill,
D. whereas Cuban law tightly restricts the freedoms of speech, association, assembly, press, and movement, and whereas, in recent years, rather than modify its laws to conform to international human rights standards, Cuba has approved legislation further restricting fundamental rights,
E. whereas in June 2003 the European Union decided to impose sanctions on Cuba, following the arrest and imprisonment of 75 dissidents and the subsequent summary execution of three hijackers,
F. whereas, on 31 January 2005, the Council decided to temporarily suspend all sanctions,
G. whereas exercising freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right,
E. whereas the winner of the European Parliament’s 2002 Sakharov Prize – Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas – has recently received death threats,
1. Condemns the current human rights situation in Cuba, which has not shown any significant improvement since 2003; points out that the ongoing violation of human rights, including the continuing detention of a large number of prisoners of conscience, is of major concern;
2. Calls on the Cuban Government to release immediately and unconditionally all individuals currently imprisoned for having exercised their fundamental rights to free expression, association, assembly, or movement, including all those imprisoned for human rights monitoring, and once again condemns such detentions, which constitute an attack on the most basic human rights, in particular freedom of expression and freedom of political association;
3. Urges the Council and the Commission to continue to take whatever action is necessary in order to obtain the release of the above individuals;
4. Calls on the Cuban Government to undertake legal reforms to ensure its compliance with international human rights and labour rights treaties to which it is a party; considers, in particular, that Cuba should implement the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by making torture a crime;
5. Calls on the Cuban Government to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit and conduct human rights investigations in Cuba;
6. Encourages the EU Member States to continue to provide economic cooperation and humanitarian aid on an ad hoc basis through non-governmental organisations;
7. Stresses that human rights issues should be raised in particular by every high-level UN visitor;
8. Takes the view that only full solidarity with the Cuban people, support for human rights defenders and an unequivocal common position by all the governments of the Member States vis-à-vis the Government of Cuba can bring about any change in the human rights situation in Cuba and democratic developments on the island;
9. Calls on the Council to reintroduce the sanctions suspended temporarily in 2005;
10. Considers that the release of all political prisoners and evidence of significant progress on the island as regards the promotion of democracy and the upholding of human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential conditions for the removal of the sanctions and the establishment of normal EU political and economic cooperation with Cuba;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Cuban Government and National Assembly of People’s Power, and Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and the Ladies in White (winners of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize).