Explicación del voto de la UE: Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas: Resolución sobre el embargo impuesto por los Estados Unidos de América contra Cuba

07.11.2019

7 November 2019, New York – European Union Explanation of Vote at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba

Mr. President,

 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Montenegro*and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, align themselves with this statement.

The economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba has a damaging impact on the economic situation of the country and negatively affects the living standards of the Cuban people. External trade and foreign investment will play a crucial role in setting the country on a path towards modernisation, reforms and sustainable growth. The EU considers therefore that lifting the embargo could facilitate the opening of the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people.

The EU believes that positive change in Cuba is best brought about by closer engagement at all levels – government, economy, civil society, but also through people-to-people exchanges. We therefore deeply regret the reintroduction of restrictions on US relations with Cuba by the current US Administration. The measures restricting individual self-directed travel, as well as, as of June 2019, banning “people-to-people” travel and cruise tourism, in particular not only curtail the possibility for engagement with the Cuban people, but are also proving to be very damaging for Cuba's burgeoning private sector, which has benefitted the most from such visits.

Beyond the damaging impact of the embargo on ordinary Cubans, unilateral US sanctions and other unilateral administrative and judicial measures are also negatively affecting EU economic interests.

We have firmly and continuously opposed any such measures, due to their extraterritorial application and impact on the European Union, in violation of commonly-accepted rules of international trade. We cannot accept that unilaterally-imposed measures impede our economic and commercial relations with Cuba.

The EU strongly rejects the US activation of Title III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act in April 2019. This breaches the commitments made by the US in the US-EU agreements of 1997 and 1998. We will draw on all appropriate measures to address the effects of the Helms-Burton Act, including in relation to our WTO rights and through the use of the EU Blocking Statute, which protects against undue interference and problems for EU citizens, businesses and NGOs residing, working or operating in Cuba.

Mr President,

For the EU, international cooperation, dialogue and closer - even if critical - engagement are the way to go with Cuba. 1 November 2019 marks the second anniversary of the provisional application of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA). The agreement has put our bilateral relationship on a new and solid legal footing and sets out an agenda of critical engagement with Cuba that will also allow us to support and accompany Cuba on its path of reform and modernisation.

We are enhancing dialogue and cooperation also on issues on which we still have fundamental differences. To this end, the PDCA has established a human rights dialogue, as a key pillar of our relationship. The second formal meeting of the dialogue, was held last month in a constructive and frank atmosphere.

We reiterate our call on the Cuban Government to fully grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms, including freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and free access to information, to ratify the UN Covenant for Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and to extend a standing invitation to all UN Special Procedures to visit Cuba.

Following the generational leadership change that took place in Cuba in April 2018 and in the context of the implementation of the country's new Constitution, we call on Cuba to pursue a comprehensive reform and modernisation agenda, extending economic and social reforms and implementing them in a manner that will address the key concerns of the Cuban population, as well as meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Cuban people for more opportunities to participate in the shaping of the country's future.

With the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, the EU offers Cuba a consistent and reliable partnership to support it as it seeks to reform its political and economic model, to pursue sustainable development, and to find common solutions to global challenges, while we continue to promote democracy and respect for human rights vigorously.

It is our considered view that the US embargo does not contribute to promoting these aims, but impedes their achievement. Against this background, the Member States of the European Union will vote unanimously in favour of the draft resolution.

 


* The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.