Irish and EU policy towards Cuba is defined by the EU Common Position adopted in December 1996. This policy, which has not changed since 1996, aims to encourage and not to enforce by external coercion of any kind a peaceful transition to democratic pluralism, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and a sustainable increase in the living standards of the Cuban people.
In line with this policy, the EU remains steadfastly opposed to the unilateral US economic embargo against Cuba. This opposition is reflected in Ireland's voting record when the issue has arisen at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Also consistent with the basic policy set out in the common position, and indeed in implementation of that policy, the EU was obliged in June 2003 to take a number of steps following the summary trial and lengthy prison sentences imposed on 75 dissidents earlier this year for exercising their right to freedom of speech and the summary trial and rapid execution of three ferry-boat hijackers in breach of international minimum standards for the implementation of the death penalty. The measures adopted on 5 June 2003 were: to limit bilateral high-level governmental visits; to reduce participation in cultural events; to invite Cuban dissidents to national day events at EU embassies in Havana; and to proceed to an early re-evaluation of the EU common position, which had not been due to take place until December 2003.
On 21 July 2003, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, confirmed the objectives of the common position as I have stated them at the outset. The Council noted that since the previous evaluation of December 2002 not only had there been no positive steps by the Cuban Government, but that the human rights situation had severely deteriorated as demonstrated by the large-scale arrests of dissidents, summary and arbitrary judicial processes and the severe sentences for the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and participation in public affairs as well as the breach of minimum standards for the administration of the death penalty.