WRITTEN QUESTION P-2303/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Cuba — European Commission delegation — human rights.
Date: 2003-07-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Commission Delegation, Cuba, EU relations, authoritarian regime, cooperation policy, diplomatic relations, human rights

C 88 E/76

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0083)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2303/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(8 July 2003)

Subject: Cuba (cid:1) European Commission delegation (cid:1) human rights

Since the EU has decided to:

(a) urge the Cuban authorities to free all political prisoners;

(b)

limit the number of high-level bilateral meetings with Cuban dignitaries;

(c)

reduce the level of participation by the Member States in cultural events;

(d)

invite Cuban dissidents to participate in ceremonies marking their national days;

(e)

reassess its joint position vis-à-vis Cuba,

can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether those responsible for running its delegation have already been fully accredited with the Cuban

authorities;

(cid:1) how the delegation in Cuba has implemented the EU decisions concerning that country; in particular
whether the delegation has invited Cuban dissidents to take part in activities promoted in accordance
with the recommendation made to the embassies of the Member States;

(cid:1) what steps the delegation has taken or intends to take vis-à-vis the Cuban government to inform it of
the Member States’ decisions and its concern about and opposition to the government’s totalitarian
methods;

(cid:1) what issues it considers should be reassessed in the EU’s joint position regarding Cuba?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

The Commission’s Delegation in Cuba is run by a Chargé d’Affaires a.i., under the responsibility of the
Head of Delegation in the Dominican Republic, who must also be accredited as Head of Delegation in
Cuba. The Cuban Government gave its agreement on 14 April 2003 to his appointment. The date for the
presentation of the credentials of the Head of Delegation has yet to be fixed.

The Commission’s Delegation in Cuba is fully associated with the implementation of the measures adopted
by the Union on Cuba. The Delegation did invite dissidents to the reception organised for Europe Day on
9 May 2003. It participated in the two ‘troika’ démarches in Havana during the last months to inform the
Cuban Government of the Union’s decisions and to call for the immediate release of imprisoned dissidents.

The re-evaluation of the Union’s Common Position has just been concluded.

(2004/C 88 E/0084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2304/03

by Emma Bonino (NI) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject: Opening of a European Commission delegation in Yemen

Although the President of the Commission gave an undertaking, during a visit to Brussels by the president
of the Republic of Yemen about three years ago, that a proper Commission delegation would be opened in
Sana’a in the near future, and although Yemen is a country of strategic importance for the Union from
various points of view, the Union is still only represented there via the head of the delegation in Amman.