WRITTEN QUESTION E-2965/00 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council. Evolution of democracy in Cuba and EU-Cuba cooperation.
Date: 2000-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, cooperation agreement (EU), democracy, economic reconstruction, human rights, humanitarian aid

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/23

The publication of the report at the beginning of 2001 will also launch a wide-ranging debate at
Community level on the future guidelines for cohesion policy in an enlarged European Union and on the
relationship between cohesion and the other two components of Community integration, i.e. the internal
market and economic and monetary union.

A forum on cohesion is to be held for that purpose in May 2001, with the participation of Parliament.

ISBN 92-827-8881-4.

(1)
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/document/doc1_en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/document/radi/radi_en.htm.

(2001/C 163 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2965/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Council

(25 September 2000)

Subject: Evolution of democracy in Cuba and EU-Cuba cooperation

What is the Council(cid:146)s view on the evolution of the government of Cuba in relation to any progress made
towards democracy, since the adoption in 1996 of a common position on Cuba? Is the Council willing,
should the question arise, to maintain a position of non-isolation of the Cuban regime coupled with
continued cooperation and humanitarian aid to the Cuban people?

Reply

(12 February 2001)

1.
The Council has taken note of the eighth evaluation of the EU Common Position on Cuba. It has
noted that, since the last evaluation in June, although there continue to be mixed signals there has not
been a fundamental change of policy on the part of
the Cuban Government, either towards the
accomplishment of the aims of the Common Position or in the opposite direction.

2.
Despite the Cuban authorities(cid:146) cancellation of the visit to Havana which the EU Troika was due to
make at the end of April 2000 and the withdrawal of Cuba(cid:146)s application to accede to the Cotonou
Agreement, the Council, in its seventh evaluation of the Common Position, considered it essential that the
EU deploy further efforts to engage the Cuban authorities in a constructive and frank dialogue on a variety
of issues of common interest that might actually produce tangible results, particularly in the political,
economic and civil rights spheres. Along these lines, at its meeting on 4/5 December 2000 the Council
restated that the EU(cid:146)s objective vis-(cid:224)-vis Cuba, as established in the Common Position, is still to encourage
a process of peaceful
for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, as well as a sustainable economy and economic recovery and improvement in the living
standards of the Cuban people.

transition to pluralist democracy, respect

3.
The Council notes that the European Union is currently Cuba(cid:146)s principal economic partner. Against
a backdrop of economic problems affecting Cuba, and primarily the most vulnerable sectors of the
population, the Council considers that the European Union should nevertheless continue its present
cooperation effort (cid:129) as described in the eighth evaluation (cid:129) which might also extend to environmental
protection and the prevention of natural disasters, in line with the objectives of the Common Position.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member

4.
the
Common Position on Cuba established in December 1996, it is not European Union policy to try to
bring about change by coercive measures with the effect of increasing the economic hardship of the Cuban
people.

in line with point 1 of

that,