MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the human rights situation in Cuba
13.11.2018 - (2018/2926(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Esteban González Pons, Cristian Dan Preda, Luis de Grandes Pascual, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez‑Neyra, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Francisco José Millán Mon, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Tunne Kelam, Michaela Šojdrová, Eduard Kukan, Milan Zver, Elisabetta Gardini, Jarosław Wałęsa, Lorenzo Cesa, Tomáš Zdechovský, Ivan Štefanec, Pavel Svoboda, József Nagy, Agnieszka Kozłowska‑Rajewicz, Krzysztof Hetman, Csaba Sógor, Patricija Šulin, Romana Tomc, Adam Szejnfeld, David McAllister, Lefteris Christoforou, Dubravka Šuica, Anders Sellström, Deirdre Clune, Seán Kelly, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Marijana Petir, Ivana Maletić, Željana Zovko, Francis Zammit Dimech, Inese Vaidere on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0528/2018
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Cuba, in particular the ones of 17 November 2004 on Cuba, of 2 February 2006 on the EU’s policy towards the Cuban Government, of 21 June 2007 on Cuba, of 11 March 2010 on prisoners of conscience in Cuba, and of 5 July 2017 on the consent and accompanying resolution to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the EU and Cuba,
– having regard to PDCA between the European Union and Cuba signed in December 2016 and provisionally applied since 1 November 2017,
– having regard to the fourth EU-Cuba Human Rights Dialogue of 9 October 2018, which was for the first time formally held under the EU-Cuba PDCA,
– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Cuba of May 2018,
– having regard to the findings of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Cuba issued on 17 March 2017,
– having regard the opinion number 59/2018 of the UN working group on arbitrary detentions of 20-24 August 2018,
– having regard to the Human Rights Watch 2017 report on Cuba, and the statement by Americas Director at Amnesty International, Erika Guevara-Rosas regarding 100 days of the new Cuban administration, of 27 July 2018,
– having regard to the monthly statements of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNC),
– having regard to the Constitution of Cuba,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas independent journalists, peaceful dissidents and human rights defenders documenting human rights abuses, mostly members of the democratic opposition, are persecuted, arbitrarily detained or being held in jail in Cuba; whereas according to the CCHRNC, in October 2018 at least 202 arbitrary short-term arrests took place, for undoubtedly political reasons, of peaceful opponents and activists of the independent civil society for exercising their basic rights of expression, assembly and political association;
B. whereas Eduardo Cardet, national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) was sentenced to three years in prison for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression; whereas in November 2016 he was arrested on his return home from a trip to Miami; whereas Mr Cardet, considered prisoner of conscience, is currently detained without any contact with his family in Cuba Si prison in Holguín;
C. whereas Tomas Núñez Magdariaga, member of the unofficial political opposition group “Patriotic Union of Cuba” (Unión Patriótica de Cuba, UNPACU) did undergo 62 days protest hunger strike and was thanks to the international pressure released on 15 October 2018; whereas Mr Magdariaga was allegedly found guilty of threatening a state official who ultimately confessed to fabricating the charges against him; whereas his case is another clear attempt to silence any dissenting ideas;
D. whereas in October 2018, the Ladies in White were once again the main victims of political repression, while a number of members of the United Antitotalitarian Forum (FANTU) were subjected to repression in several provinces of the country;
E. whereas on 5 July 2017 the European Parliament granted its consent to the EU - Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA); whereas the PDCA clearly articulates its great concerns about human rights situation in Cuba, and includes a suspension clause in the event of a violation of human rights provisions;
F. whereas the human rights dialogue between the EU and Cuba, led by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, began in 2015 and fourth round took place on 9 October 2018; whereas it hasn’t brough any tangible results despite Cuba’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2017-2019; whereas the political dialogue must include the direct intensive dialogue with civil society and the opposition without any restriction;
G. whereas a constitutional referendum is due to take place on 24 February 2019; whereas the process of the new constitution lacks the proper nationwide consultation, ensuring the Communist Party to maintain its powerful role in society, without a plural-party system, basic freedoms and political and civil rights reinforcing centralised state ownership and controlled economy; whereas in Art.3 the single-party political system is declared as "irrevocable", and Art. 224 states that the current and future generations are prohibited to change the irreversibility of socialism as well as current political and social system;
H. whereas on three occasions the European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Cuban activists, Oswaldo Payá in 2002, the Ladies in White in 2005 and Guillermo Fariñas in 2010; whereas Sakharov laureates regularly continue to be prevented from leaving the country and participate in international events;
I. whereas the European Parliament has on many occasions asked to send an official delegation to Cuba; whereas the Cuban authorities have each time denied the acces to the country, continued even after being granted the PDCA;
1. Strongly condemns the arbitrary detentions, persecutions, acts of harassment and attacks against peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition Cuba; calls for the immediate cease of these acts and the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Eduardo Cardet, and those arbitrarily detained solely for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly and to improve prison conditions and treatment for prisoners;
2. Regrets that despite the adopted PDCA, the situation of human rights and democracy hasn’t improved; urges the fulfilment of the binding obligations established in the PDCA between the EU and Cuba and in particular concerning the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
3. Recalls that the PDCA includes a provision for the suspension of the agreement that should be applied in the event of a violation of the provisions on human rights; in this regard insists on the EU to closely follow and monitor the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba when implementing the PDCA and to regularly report to the Parliament; invites the HR/VP Federica Mogherini to inform the EP in plenary in detail about concrete steps being taken with the aim to meet the above mentioned;
4. Urges the Cuban government to redefine its policy on human rights by aligning with international human rights laws and to allow active participation of all civil society and opposition political actors, without restrictions in the political and social life; calls on Cuba to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and their optional protocols;
5. Fully supports the findings of the UN Committee on enforced disappearances in Cuba urging the government to take the necessary measures to guarantee the full independence of its judicial system as well as to set up an independent National Institution of Human Rights in lines with the Paris Principles;
6. Expresses its grave concerns over the new draft Constitution and the referendum foreseen for February 2019; stresses that the whole process lacks inclusion, tolerance and respect for basic civil and political rights that could guarantee a democratic constitutional process; demands the relevant Cuban authorities to stipulate in the new Constitution free and pluralistic elections;
7. Calls on the HR/VP Federica Mogherini to recognise the existence of a political opposition to the Cuban Government; calls on all EU Member State representatives visits’ to raise the human rights concerns with the Cuban authorities and meet with the Sakharov Prize Laurates when visiting Cuba in order to ensure internal and external coherence of the EU human rights policy;
8. Strongly regrets the Cuban authorities' refusal to allow EP committees, delegations and some EP political groups visiting Cuba despite of granted consent to the PDCA, and calls on the authorities to immediately allow the entry to the country, including the possibility to visit the island when the constitutional referendum is due to take place in 24 February 2019;
9. Expresses its concerns about the permanent Cuban interference in the crisis of Venezuela; in this regards calls on Cuban authorities to stop to contribute to repressive and intelligence actions and its political presence in Venezuela;
10. 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 parliaments and governments of the Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the Member States of the CELAC countries.