European Parliament resolution on the EU's policy towards the Cuban Government

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
and, in particular, that of 17 November 2004(1) ,

– having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2005 on the Annual
Report on Human Rights in the World 2004 and the EU's policy on the
matter(2) ,

– having regard to the Council Presidency Declaration of 14 December
2005 on the Damas de Blanco and the earlier Presidency Declarations of
26 March 2003 and 5 June 2003 on the situation in Cuba,

– having regard to Council Common Position 96/697/CFSP(3) 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, remains one of the European Union's main objectives,

B. whereas dozens of independent journalists, peaceful dissidents and
defenders of human rights (members of the democratic opposition and in
most cases linked to the Varela project) are still being held in jail in
subhuman conditions, and whereas some of them are seriously ill and many
are close relatives of the Damas de Blanco,

C. whereas Parliament awarded the 2005 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of
Thought to the Damas de Blanco, to Hauwa Ibrahim and to the
international organisation Reporters Without Borders,

D. whereas the refusal of the Cuban authorities to allow the Damas de
Blanco to travel to the seat of the European Parliament to receive their
award violates one of the basic human rights, namely the right freely to
leave and return to one's own country, as enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,

E. whereas the Cuban authorities ignored the requests and approaches
made by the President of the European Parliament and by other European
Union bodies, despite all the necessary arrangements having been made
for the Damas de Blanco to receive their prize in person,

F. whereas, furthermore, the winner of the European Parliament's 2002
Sakharov Prize, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, has been systematically denied
the freedom to leave Cuba and to accept the invitations issued by this
Parliament and by other European Union bodies,

G. whereas in 2005 no prisoners of conscience held in Cuba were
released and whereas, far from decreasing, the number of political
prisoners significantly increased,

1. Regrets the absence of any significant signs on the part of the
Cuban authorities in reponse to the European Union's calls for full
respect for fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression and
political association; condemns the worsening repression and the
increase in the number of prisoners of conscience;

2. Considers it inconceivable that people continue to be imprisoned in
Cuba for their ideals and peaceful political activity, and calls for the
immediate release of all political prisoners of conscience;

3. Condemns the travel ban on the Damas de Blanco, the worsening
repression against the peaceful opposition and the fresh wave of
imprisonments; considers that these developments run counter to the
aspirations for a better relationship between the European Union and
Cuba, which was the main objective of the changes introduced by the
Council on 31 January 2005 to the measures complementary to the
above-mentioned Common Position, and calls on the Council to act
accordingly;

4. Urges the Council and the Commission to continue to take whatever
action is necessary in order to require the release of political
prisoners and to ensure that an immediate stop is put to the harassment
of political opponents and human rights defenders;

5. Stresses that the human rights issue should be raised in particular
by every high-level EU visitor;

6. Urges the Cuban authorities immediately to allow the Damas de Blanco
to leave the island so that they can accept the invitation of the
European Parliament, and instructs its President to take all possible
steps to ensure that the prize winners can indeed receive the Sakharov
Prize in person;

7. Renews its invitation to the Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, and demands that
the Cuban authorities permit him to travel to Europe to appear before
the Community institutions;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council
and the Commission, to Cuba's Government and National Assembly of
People's Power and to the Damas de Blanco and Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas,
winners of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize.

(1) OJ C 201 E, 18.8.2005, p. 83.
(2) Texts Adopted , P6_TA(2005)0150.
(3) OJ L 322, 12.12.1996, p.1.

P6_TA-PROV(2006)0042
Can be found via:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/activities/expert/ta/search.do?language=EN