Brussels, 30/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 29 January, member state experts reached agreement on reviewing relations with Cuba. Relations have been in stalemate since 1996 due to the human rights situation under the island's governing Communist party (see EUROPE 11000).
The aim is to open bilateral talks with a view to the signing, perhaps in 2015, of a cooperation agreement with Havana. The process aims to “encourage the reform process and lead to dialogue based on respect of human rights” and to “promote trade and economic relations” between Europe and Cuba, a source said, cited by AFP.
The agreement is expected to be approved at the EU28 ambassadors' level (Coreper) on 5 February, then by the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 February. The countries that are most reticent about such a development, traditionally the countries of the former Soviet bloc, are prepared to waive that reticence on condition that discussions to be opened with the Castrist regime are accompanied by a detailed assessment of the way the human rights situation has evolved on the Caribbean island. (MB/transl.jl)