# CE2004088EN.01036501.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/365 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/365

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(2004/C 88 E/0371)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject:   Cuba – Cotonou

Subject:

Following the tragic events of recent weeks, the Commission has announced that consideration of Cuba's application to accede to the Cotonou Agreement has been suspended for an indefinite period. This decision is to be welcomed even though it should have been taken earlier, given the clear evidence of an extremely serious deterioration in the human rights situation.

It should be borne in mind that, at the time of the opening of the Commission representation in Havana, Commissioner Poul Nielson stated that he could see no obstacles to Cuba's accession to the Cotonou Agreement.

In view of the above:

| — | Did the Commission have information on the real situation in Cuba before the recent events occurred? |
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Did the Commission have information on the real situation in Cuba before the recent events occurred?

| — | Did the information available at the time of the opening of the Commission's representation – especially the situation denounced by Oswaldo Payá at the Sakharov Prize award ceremony (see my Written Question of 12 March 2003) – not already constitute sufficiently alarming evidence regarding the Cuban Government's attitude? |
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Did the information available at the time of the opening of the Commission's representation – especially the situation denounced by Oswaldo Payá at the Sakharov Prize award ceremony (see my Written Question of 12 March 2003) – not already constitute sufficiently alarming evidence regarding the Cuban Government's attitude?

| — | What minimum conditions (an end to political persecution, unconditional release of all political prisoners, democratisation of political structures and methods?) must the Cuban Government fulfil in order to regain the Commission's trust? |
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What minimum conditions (an end to political persecution, unconditional release of all political prisoners, democratisation of political structures and methods?) must the Cuban Government fulfil in order to regain the Commission's trust?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

(15 July 2003)

The Commission has always followed the situation in Cuba closely and is now even better placed to do so since opening a Delegation in Havana.

During his visit to Havana of 9 to 15 March 2003 the Member of the Commission responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid met a group of dissidents and hearing at first-hand their views on human rights in Cuba. Some of these representatives of Cuban civil society expressed concerns about Cuban membership of Cotonou. Others, among them Osvaldo Payá, described it as a historic opportunity and possibly the only agreement signed by the Cuban government in 44 years with binding provisions on democratisation and human rights.

The Presidency's declaration of 26 March 2003, the Council's conclusions of 14 April 2003 and the Parliament resolution of 10 April 2003 all condemned these actions and stated that they would affect the Union's relations with Cuba and the prospects for increased cooperation. At its meeting of 30 April 2003 the Commission again roundly condemned the situation and considered that examination of Cuba's application to accede to the Cotonou Agreement should be deferred. Noting Cuba's re-election to the UN Commission for Human Rights, it considered that the conditions for membership of that Commission should be seriously reviewed.

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