04.03.2015

Chair Elmar Brok meets with Cuban civil society representatives

Elmar Brok, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), met on 3rd of March with Cuban civil society representatives. The Cuban delegation reflected several political orientations in Cuba and included Bertha Soler, leader of the 2005 Sakharov laureate Ladies in White, as well as members of the Arco Progresista and the Christian Democratic Party of Cuba, attesting the existence of a common platform of Cuban civil society organisations, inside and outside Cuba, supporting a peaceful transition to democracy.

Mr Brok and the Cuban representatives discussed the political and human rights situation in the island following President’s Obama announcement of an ease of US restrictions on Cuba. The Chair of AFET qualified the current situation as a „moment of hope“ and encouraged the Cuban representatives to engage and make the most of the current situation to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy. They also discussed past transitions to democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Chile, as a possible source of inspiration.

The Cuban representatives asked Mr Brok that the EU strongly supports the democratic reform agenda in the island in its negotiations of a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. Mr Brok pledged the EP’s technical support in a future transition process. The Cuban representatives presented to Mr Brok their initiative to gather signatures from those who suffered under the regime to commit to a peaceful transition to democracy without revenge.

Für weitere Informationen:
Elmar Brok MdEP, Tel. +32 2284 7323