Presidency declaration on Cuba

Summary: June 5, 2003: Declaration by the Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, on Cuba (Brussels)

Following the recent deplorable actions of the Cuban authorities aiming not only at violating fundamental freedoms in Cuba, but also at depriving civilians of the ultimate human right, that of life, the EU regrets that the Cuban authorities broke the de-facto moratorium on the death penalty and wishes to inform the international community that on 5 June it addressed the following demarche to the Cuban authorities:

"The EU, deeply concerned about the continuing flagrant violation of human rights and of fundamental freedoms of members of the Cuban opposition and of independent journalists, being deprived of their freedom for having expressed freely their opinion, calls once again the Cuban authorities to release immediately all political prisoners.

While expecting a favourable response from the Cuban authorities, the EU, mindful of increasing reports about poor detention conditions of prisoners with serious health problems, appeals to the Cuban authorities that, in the meantime, the prisoners do not suffer unduly and are not exposed to inhumane treatment."

Furthermore and vis-à-vis the current situation in Cuba, the EU has unanimously decided to:

limit the bilateral high-level governmental visits
reduce the profile of member states' participation in cultural events
invite Cuban dissidents at national days celebrations
proceed to the re-evaluation of the EU common position.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria and Romania and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.

Ref: CL03-208EN
EU source: Council
UN forum:
Date: 5/6/2003

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