91998E0236

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0236/98 by José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE) to the Commission (13 February 1998)

Subject: Helms-Burton Act

On Thursday 15 January 1998 the EU and the USA held a ministerial meeting in Washington.

One of the topics raised was undoubtedly the Helms-Burton Act relating to Cuba.

Could the Commission provide information regarding the progress which has been made in the negotiations since 15 October 1997?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998)

Under the terms of the April 1997 understanding between the Community and the United States on the Helms-Burton and D'Amato legislation, the Community and the United States are seeking to develop jointly agreed disciplines on investments in illegally expropriated property and principles governing the use of extraterritorial legislation.

Recent contacts between the Community and the United States, since the 15 January Community and United States ministerial, have been constructive. The Community continues to argue that positive progress must be recorded on all the various aspects of the Understanding, both on Helms-Burton and D'Amato, to ensure a full implementation therof. We continue to press the United States for a rapid solution to all these issues which protects European interests and inhibits future United States recourse to illegal extraterritorial legislation.