Human rights in the relations between the European Union and Cuba

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14053 | 04 May 2016

Signatories:

Mr Teófilo de LUIS, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Sílvia Eloïsa BONET, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Valentina BULIGA, Republic of Moldova, SOC ; Ms Sahiba GAFAROVA, Azerbaijan, EC ; Mr Xavier GARCÍA ALBIOL, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr José Ramón GARCÍA HERNÁNDEZ, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Carlos Alberto GONÇALVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Maria GRECEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Mr Attila KORODI, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Guguli MAGRADZE, Georgia, SOC ; Mr Duarte MARQUES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Liliana PALIHOVICI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Judith PALLARÉS, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Mechthild RAWERT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Melisa RODRÍGUEZ HERNÁNDEZ, Spain, ALDE ; Mr Adão SILVA, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Manuel TORNARE, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

For more than two years now, the Republic of Cuba and its government have been in the process of solving their economic, social and political crisis through negotiations with the United States and the European Union. Economic standards and the Cuban economy are at the centre of those discussions in the belief that, after the recovery of the economy, the social crisis will be solved and a solution to the political crisis will be found.

The Council of Europe holds freedom as a core value. Today, the Cuban Constitution recognises the right to work, but working conditions are fixed by both employers and what could be called “Public Contractor” who selects workers and fixes wages and working conditions.

As the President of the European Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, stressed in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly on 19 April 2016, the role of the Council of Europe as an authority, reference and partner in the promotion and defence of human rights should be acknowledged.

Likewise, Mr Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding an agreement between the European Union and Cuba, underlined the importance of human rights and his interest in the political developments in Cuba.

The Council of Europe, as a pan-European body whose foundations are based on the rule of law and the defence of human rights, may provide a contribution to the development of a Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement European Union-Cuba. The Assembly could make proposals concerning human rights, especially in the field of workers’ rights.