Cuba must end the arbitrary detention, persecution and harassment of peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and the political opposition, say MEPs.
They regret that, despite the adopted EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), the situation regarding human rights and democracy in the country has not improved. The European Parliament reminds the Cuban authorities that the PDCA includes a provision to suspend the agreement in the event of human rights violations, and calls on the European Commission to closely monitor this issue.
The resolution also demands that the Cuban government stop imposing online censorship and blocking internet sites for the sole purpose of limiting political criticism. MEPs recall that freedom of movement and assembly is guaranteed under international human rights law, and that this freedom extends to activists and members of the democratic opposition.
The text was adopted by 325 votes to 240, with 44 abstentions.
