EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/359

(2004/C 78 E/0378)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0906/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: Cuba; Cotonou Agreement; Human rights

In view of the fact that:

(a) Commissioner Paul Nielsen is currently visiting Cuba for the opening of the Commission delegation's office there;

(b) Cuba has expressed its desire to accede to the Cotonou Agreement;

(c) the European Union has been Cuba's most important trading partner;

(d) according to Common Position 96/697/CFSP (1) the Union's policy with regard to Cuba is based on dialogue designed to encourage transition to pluralist democracy;

(e) the Member States have systematically condemned Cuba in the UN Commission on Human Rights;

(f) in 1999 the EU presidency expressed deep concern at certain provisions of the amendments incorporated into Cuban criminal law, which restrict even further the exercise of citizens' rights;

(g) on 16 December 2002 Oswaldo José Paya Sardinas, the 2002 Sakharov prize winner, told the European Parliament that some of his friends were being ‘victimised and subjected to real acts of terror’ and that if the Government decided to sign the Cotonou Agreement, the issue of human rights would have to be dealt with in accordance with the clause included in the Agreement itself,

Can the Commission say:

— whether there are changes in the behaviour of the political leadership in Cuba to justify closer relations with the European Union, in particular that country's accession to the Cotonou Agreement? What tangible results the European Union's policy towards Cuba has already achieved with regard to transition to democracy? Whether it is developing a policy to promote Cuba's accession to the Agreement and what results it expects to achieve and when? How the Commission classifies Cuba, with reference to its political system and the regime's behaviour?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 2003)

The respect of fundamental freedoms and political rights in Cuba remains a cause of serious concern for the Union. Some positive signs were noted by the Member States during the 11th and 12th evaluations of the Common Position last year, but major changes to promote respect for human rights and real progress towards pluralist democracy were still lacking.

Developments in Cuba have since taken a very negative turn with the large scale arrest of dissidents between 18 and 25 March, the unfair trials and the arbitrary and excessive sentences imposed on them, as well as, with the end of the ‘de facto’ moratorium on the death penalty, the execution of three people convicted of hijacking a Cuban ferry in the beginning of April.

Those events have prompted a swift reaction from the Union. The Parliament, the Council and the Commission strongly condemned the situation. The European Parliament, in its resolution of 10 April, as well as the Council in its resolutions of 26 March and 14 April, have established a link between the prisoners' release and Cuban accession to Cotonou.

The Commission decided on 30 April to defer the examination of the Cuban application for accession of the Cotonou Agreement, signalling that these recent developments are not conducive to co-operation between the European Union and Cuba.

The Cuban authorities decided on 16 May to withdraw their application.

As far as the last question is concerned, the Commission considers that the current regime in Cuba — one of the world's last Communist states- is not a democratic one nor does it promote a market-based economy. It is, therefore, a regime with which a reinforced dialogue needs to be pursued, in order to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable economy and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people.

(1) OJ L 322, 12.12.1996, p. 1.