BETA


2018/2926(RSP) Resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 144

Events

2018/11/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2018/11/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2018/11/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 325 votes to 240 with 44 abstentions a resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, ECR, and ALDE groups.

Parliament condemned the arbitrary detention and persecution of peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition in Cuba, with specific reference to Eduardo Cardet, a national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) who was sentenced to three years in prison for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Member States, the EEAS and the EU’s delegation in Cuba were asked to take all necessary action to protect political opponents and human rights defenders.

Members called for fulfilment of the binding obligations established in the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) regarding Cuba’s observance of human rights, stating that the situation regarding human rights and democracy in Ciba has not improved since the adoption of the Agreement. They invited VP/HR Federica Mogherini to inform Parliament in detail in plenary about the concrete steps being taken with the aim of meeting the requirements on human rights and democracy, noting at the same time that the PDCA includes a provision for the suspension of the Agreement that should be applied in the event of a violation of the provisions on human rights. Parliament required regular reports on this issue.

The VP/HR was also asked to recognise the existence of a political opposition to the Cuban Government and to support its inclusion in the political dialogue between the EU and Cuba. Parliament called on all EU Member State representatives to raise human rights concerns during visits with the Cuban authorities and to meet with the Sakharov Prize laureates (Oswaldo Payá, the Ladies in White and Guillermo Fariñas) when visiting Cuba in order to ensure the internal and external coherence of EU human rights policy.

The resolution urged the Cuban government to:

stop imposing online censorship and stop blocking internet sites for the sole purpose of limiting political criticism and restricting access to information; redefine its policy on human rights by aligning it with international human rights law and to allow active participation in political and social life by all civil society and opposition political actors, without imposing any restrictions; guarantee the full independence of its judicial system and to set up an independent National Institution of Human Rights in line with the Paris Principles; abolish the death penalty for all crimes; allow churches to conduct their social care activities freely in Cuban society; calls for freedom of religion and conscience to be fully guaranteed;

Parliament expressed concern about the constitutional referendum due to take place on 24 February 2019, stating that the process lacks proper nationwide consultation, thereby ensuring that the Communist Party maintains its powerful role in society without a multi-party system, basic freedoms and political and civil rights. It urged the European institutions and Member States to assist the economic and political transition in Cuba, using the various EU foreign policy instruments, and in particular the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), in order to reinforce the EU’s dialogue with Cuban civil society.

Lastly, Parliament regretted the Cuban authorities’ refusal to allow European Parliament committees, delegations and some political groups to visit Cuba despite Parliament granting its consent to the PDCA, and called on the authorities to allow entry to the country, particularly during the constitutional referendum.

Documents
2018/11/15
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2018/11/14
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents

Documents

Activities

Votes

RC-B8-0528/2018 - Résolution 15/11/2018 12:08:54.000 #

2018/11/15 Outcome: +: 325, -: 240, 0: 44
PL SE DE NL HU BG BE DK CZ RO FI HR SK LT SI EE LV LU AT IE CY MT PT ?? ES FR GB EL IT
Total
37
18
83
23
15
14
18
12
17
26
11
10
11
8
7
4
4
5
15
8
5
5
19
1
44
63
55
15
54
icon: PPE PPE
166

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

1

Latvia PPE

1

Luxembourg PPE

2
3

Cyprus PPE

1

Malta PPE

2

United Kingdom PPE

For (1)

1

Greece PPE

1
icon: ECR ECR
56

Sweden ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Romania ECR

2
2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Cyprus ECR

1

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Italy ECR

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
58

Germany ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

2
3

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

France Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

6

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Italy Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
28

Poland ENF

Against (1)

1

Germany ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
18

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

Denmark NI

1

NI

Against (1)

1

France NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

3
icon: EFDD EFDD
34

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Abstain (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
40

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

France GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Italy GUE/NGL

2
icon: S&D S&D
159

Netherlands S&D

Abstain (2)

2
3
3

Czechia S&D

3

Finland S&D

2

Croatia S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Ireland S&D

Against (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Greece S&D

Abstain (1)

3

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0528_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0528_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0532_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0532_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0534_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0534_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0537_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0537_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0541_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0541_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0543_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0543_EN.html
docs/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-8-2018-0528_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-8-2018-0528_EN.html
events/1/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20181115&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
events/2
date
2018-11-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2018-0460_EN.html title: T8-0460/2018
summary
events/2
date
2018-11-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2018-0460_EN.html title: T8-0460/2018
summary
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0528&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0528_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0532&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0532_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0534&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0534_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0537&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0537_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0541&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0541_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0543&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2018-0543_EN.html
docs/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P8-RC-2018-0528&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-8-2018-0528_EN.html
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2018-0460
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2018-0460_EN.html
events/0
date
2018-11-15T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=31822&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 144
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 135
activities
  • date: 2018-11-15T00:00:00 body: EP type: Debate in plenary scheduled
committees
    docs
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0528&language=EN title: B8-0528/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0532&language=EN title: B8-0532/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0534&language=EN title: B8-0534/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0537&language=EN title: B8-0537/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0541&language=EN title: B8-0541/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2018-0543&language=EN title: B8-0543/2018 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2018-11-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P8-RC-2018-0528&language=EN title: RC-B8-0528/2018 type: Joint motion for resolution
    events
    • date: 2018-11-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20181115&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2018-11-15T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2018-0460 title: T8-0460/2018 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 325 votes to 240 with 44 abstentions a resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba. The resolution was tabled by the EPP, ECR, and ALDE groups. Parliament condemned the arbitrary detention and persecution of peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition in Cuba, with specific reference to Eduardo Cardet, a national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) who was sentenced to three years in prison for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Member States, the EEAS and the EU’s delegation in Cuba were asked to take all necessary action to protect political opponents and human rights defenders. Members called for fulfilment of the binding obligations established in the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) regarding Cuba’s observance of human rights, stating that the situation regarding human rights and democracy in Ciba has not improved since the adoption of the Agreement. They invited VP/HR Federica Mogherini to inform Parliament in detail in plenary about the concrete steps being taken with the aim of meeting the requirements on human rights and democracy, noting at the same time that the PDCA includes a provision for the suspension of the Agreement that should be applied in the event of a violation of the provisions on human rights. Parliament required regular reports on this issue. The VP/HR was also asked to recognise the existence of a political opposition to the Cuban Government and to support its inclusion in the political dialogue between the EU and Cuba. Parliament called on all EU Member State representatives to raise human rights concerns during visits with the Cuban authorities and to meet with the Sakharov Prize laureates (Oswaldo Payá, the Ladies in White and Guillermo Fariñas) when visiting Cuba in order to ensure the internal and external coherence of EU human rights policy. The resolution urged the Cuban government to: stop imposing online censorship and stop blocking internet sites for the sole purpose of limiting political criticism and restricting access to information; redefine its policy on human rights by aligning it with international human rights law and to allow active participation in political and social life by all civil society and opposition political actors, without imposing any restrictions; guarantee the full independence of its judicial system and to set up an independent National Institution of Human Rights in line with the Paris Principles; abolish the death penalty for all crimes; allow churches to conduct their social care activities freely in Cuban society; calls for freedom of religion and conscience to be fully guaranteed; Parliament expressed concern about the constitutional referendum due to take place on 24 February 2019, stating that the process lacks proper nationwide consultation, thereby ensuring that the Communist Party maintains its powerful role in society without a multi-party system, basic freedoms and political and civil rights. It urged the European institutions and Member States to assist the economic and political transition in Cuba, using the various EU foreign policy instruments, and in particular the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), in order to reinforce the EU’s dialogue with Cuban civil society. Lastly, Parliament regretted the Cuban authorities’ refusal to allow European Parliament committees, delegations and some political groups to visit Cuba despite Parliament granting its consent to the PDCA, and called on the authorities to allow entry to the country, particularly during the constitutional referendum.
    • date: 2018-11-15T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/stage_reached
      Old
      Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
      New
      Procedure completed
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 6.10.09 Human rights situation in the world
      New
      6.10.08
      Fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general
      procedure/title
      Old
      The human rights situation in Cuba
      New
      Resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba
      activities
      • date: 2018-11-15T00:00:00 body: EP type: Debate in plenary scheduled
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure EP 135
          reference
          2018/2926(RSP)
          title
          The human rights situation in Cuba
          geographical_area
          Cuba
          stage_reached
          Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
          subtype
          Urgent debate or resolution
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject
          6.10.09 Human rights situation in the world