WRITTEN QUESTION E-2934/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Cuba — Spanish Cultural Centre.
Date: 2003-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, Spain, bilateral agreement, cultural organisation, nationalisation, withdrawal from an agreement

C 88 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

In response to the deteriorating political situation in Burma, the Union decided to reinforce its Common
Position on Burma in April 2003 (1). Furthermore, it decided to bring forward the implementation of the
additional sanctions targeted at the military leaders and their closest supporters after the attacks on Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters at the end of May 2003.

The Commission is currently undertaking a study assessing the impact of the present Union sanctions on
the Burmese regime and looking at possibilities for additional measures should the situation not improve.
When examining the scope for strengthened sanctions by the Union, the Commission will look carefully at
the possible effects of specific sanctions, such as economic sanctions as imposed by the United States,
on the Burmese population. Any decision on further sanctions will be taken by the Council, based on the
support of all Member States and the Commission.

(1) OJ L 106, 29.4.2003.

(2004/C 88 E/0129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2934/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Cuba (cid:1) Spanish Cultural Centre

According to the media, the Spanish Cultural Centre in Havana has been taken over by the State, 90 days
after the country’s authorities denounced a bilateral agreement concerning this institution.

This has been seen as a reprisal on the part of the Cuban authorities, in response to the measures against
Cuba adopted by the European Union on 5 June 2003.

The Commission:

(cid:1) what information does it have as to the facts;

(cid:1) what steps has it delegation taken vis-à-vis the Cuban authorities, to prevent the nationalisation of the

Spanish Cultural Centre;

(cid:1) how does it view the positions recently adopted by the Cuban authorities;

(cid:1) what measures does it intend to take to reverse the situation of the Spanish Cultural Centre, and to

prevent similar events in future?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Spain informed the other Member States and the Commission of the decision of the Cuban authorities to
denounce the bilateral agreement concerning the Spanish Cultural Centre in Havana. This decision was
announced by a public statement of the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs on 11 June 2003, following the
Union declaration on Cuba of 5 June 2003.

It is for Spain to consider steps it wishes to take, including the possibility of initiating legal action over this
unilateral breach of the agreement.

The conclusions adopted on Cuba by the European Council in Thessaloniki, on 19 and 20 June 2003,
recalled the measures announced by the Union on 5 June 2003 and considered the behaviour of the
Cuban authorities towards the Union and its Member States unacceptable. This behaviour was also
deplored and totally rejected in the Council conclusions on the re-evaluation of the Common Position on
Cuba in July 2003.

In the face of this kind of event, the Member States and the Commission have agreed to maintain strong
cohesion in the implementation of all the measures decided and made public on 5 June 2003.