RESOLUTION B3-1692, 1716, 1737, 1758 and 1788/92

Resolution on the restrictions on international trade imposed by the United States (Cuban Democracy Act)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Cuban Democracy Act or Torricelli Act adopted by the United States Congress and signed by President Bush,

- having regard to the United Nations General Assembly resolution of 24 November 1992 rejecting the Cuban Democracy Act,

A. whereas this law unilaterally imposes restrictions on the national sovereignty of other states and constitutes a deliberate, flagrant violation of international law on free trade and freedom of transit incompatible with the principles of the EEC-USA Transatlantic Declaration,

B. whereas in 1991 President Bush rejected a similar proposal, the 'Mack Amendment', his justification being that the amendment was extra-territorial in character and infringed international law,

C. having regard to the opposition to this law expressed by the Commission, the Council Presidency, the Governments of Canada and Uruguay and the Parliaments of Mexico and Venezuela,

D. whereas isolation of a state which has not been decided on by the United Nations can make no contribution to democratization and may, on the contrary, serve as a pretext for a harder-line policy,

1. Supports the complaint lodged with the US State Department by the Presidency-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Community;

2. Calls on the President-elect of the United States, once he has taken office, and the US Congress to remove from the statute books the Cuban Democracy Act, the extra-territorial scope of which vis-à-vis United States jurisdiction represents flagrant violation of international free trade and freedom of transit;

3. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States to take joint action to bring about the annulment of this Act;

4. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States to step up their humanitarian aid to the Cuban people via NGOs;

5. Instructs its Delegation for the United States to raise this problem at its next meeting with the members of Congress;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the US President and the Cuban authorities.