MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on government crackdown on protests and citizens in Cuba

14.9.2021 - (2021/2872(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Pedro Marques, Andrea Cozzolino, Javi López
on behalf of the S&D Group
Tilly Metz, Ernest Urtasun, Ignazio Corrao, Rosa D'Amato, Hannah Neumann, Francisco Guerreiro
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

B9‑0439/2021

European Parliament resolution on government crackdown on protests and citizens in Cuba

(2021/2872(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on 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 main results of the EU-Cuba Joint Council, 20 January 2021,

 

- having regard to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights resolution 14/2021 regarding Cuba February 11, 2021,

 

- having regard to the EEAS Statement on the third EU-Cuba Human Rights Dialogue, formally held under the EU-Cuba PDCA on 26 February 2021,

 

- having regard to the EEAS Statement on the third EU-Cuba Dialogue in Unilateral Coercive Measures on 26 March 2021,

 

- having regard to the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 of 18 December 2020,

 

- having regard to the statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 16 July 2021: “Cuba: Bachelet urges dialogue, calls for release of detained protesters”,

 

- having regard to the relevant UN General Assembly resolutions adopted since 1992 and, more recently the UNGA resolution adopted on 23 June 2021 on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”,

 

- having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Cuba in May 2018,

 

- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international human rights treaties and instruments,

 

- having regard to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1984 and to which Cuba is a State Party,

 

- having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

 

- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Cuba is a signatory,

 

- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. Whereas since July 11 important social demonstrations have started in Cuba in at least 40 towns and cities in the country; whereas these are the largest protests in Cuba since the 1994 “Maleconazo” protest; whereas numerous protesters have been detained in Cuba since, including journalists, and some held in incommunicado;
2. Whereas the  public demonstrations reflect legitimate grievances in the population about the lack of food, medicines, water and power, as well as freedom of expression and freedom of the press; whereas these grievances in parallel with COVID 19 have created an increase in the demand for civil and political rights, and for democracy;
3. Whereas the responsibility of the State of Cuba is to acknowledge, protect and ensure the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, without discrimination based on political views; whereas it is essential for State´s law enforcement officers to act in strict compliance with international human rights standards with respect to the principles of legality, exceptionality, proportionality and necessity.
4. Whereas the protests in Cuba take place in the context of a difficult economic situation; whereas the Cuban economy contracted 10.8% in 2020, according to official figures and fell another 2% in the first six months of 2021 when compared to the same period last year; whereas imports have fallen around 40% over the last 18 months; whereas in January, Cuba approved a monetary reform that unified its former two-currency system, leading to inflation;
5. Whereas on 23 June a total of 184 countries supported a United Nations General Assembly Resolution to demand the end of the US economic blockade on Cuba, for the 29th year in a row; whereas the US embargo has obstructed humanitarian responses to help the country’s health care system fight the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas Parliament’s longstanding position, which has been adopted on numerous occasions and shared by the EU institutions, is to oppose extraterritoriality laws, given that they are directly harmful to the Cuban people and affect the activities of European undertakings.
6. whereas the European Investment Bank (EIB) is active in around 160 countries, some of which face considerable challenges in terms of human and fundamental rights: whereas Cuba, however, is not yet eligible for EIB financing;

 

1. Calls on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those detained for the exercise of their freedom of expression and peaceful assembly;
2. Calls on the Cuban authorities to listen to the voices of its citizens and to engage in and inclusive national dialogue towards a process of modernization and democratization of the country;
3. Calls on the Cuban authorities ensure that the economic, social and cultural rights of the population are met, to address their need for greater access to food and medicine, and to provide an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic; recognises the efforts of the country in dealing with the pandemic, including the development of vaccines;
4. Calls on the Cuban authorities to grant access to the country to independent human rights organizations, to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; invites the Cuban authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with the EU institutions, including the European Parliament and to allow access to the country to them;
5. Recalls its strong support for all human rights defenders in Cuba and their work; calls on the EU delegation and Member States’ representations in the country to continue their support for civil society in their engagement with Cuban authorities, and to use all available instruments to enhance the work of human rights defenders, and, where appropriate, to facilitate the issuing of emergency visas, and provide temporary shelter in the EU Member States, if necessary;
6. Calls for the immediate lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States of America;
7. Reiterates the importance of extending the mandate of the EIB and calls for Cuba to be fully eligible for EIB financing;
8. Supports the constructive engagement of the HR/VP and of the EEAS to keep the channels of dialogue open and to engage on a positive approach towards the country’s challenges;
9. Highlights the importance of deepening relations between the European Union, its Member States and the Republic of Cuba, specifically within the framework of the PDCA, by seeking the development of mutually respectful and beneficial ties between the parties; calls on the EU delegation in Havana to closely monitor the human rights situation in the country and to enhance all cooperation under the PDCA;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the Member States of the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.