Brussels, 08/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The EPP-ED and ALDE groups of the European Parliament held a day of studies in Brussels on 2 June, to look at the situation in Cuba, together with the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba. Bringing together exiled Cuban intellectuals and members of the European and national parliaments, the meeting led to the adoption of a Declaration of Brussels, which "criticised the EU for its change in policy towards Cuba" and calls for the "restoration of diplomatic and political sanctions against Cuba until tangible signs of its goodwill, such as the liberation of prisoners of conscience", have been exhibited. These sanctions, which were adopted in June 2003, were lifted on 31 January 2005 by the Council, which is to re-examine its position before July, "in the light of developments towards democratic pluralism and the respect for human rights in Cuba". When asked by a small group of journalists about a congress of dissidents in Cuba, the Czech Minister for foreign affairs, Cyril Svoboda, was "very reserved" about its actual scope, pointing out that "the treatment of dissidents under a totalitarian regime is still very much a vivid memory for us". MEP José Ribeiro e Castro (EPP-ED, Portugal ), one of the organisers of this study day, took the opportunity to publish a petition of over 500 signatures from European and national parliamentarians entitled "No Estais Solos" (you are not alone), in support of the 2002 Sakharov prizewinner, Oswaldo Payá Sardias, whom the Cuban authorities have banned from leaving Cuba (and whose "telephone lines have all been cut in the last few days", preventing the planned conference telephone call from taking place as part of the day, said Julio Hernandez in Brussels).