Brussels, 17/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 June, a diplomatic source close to the issue said that “very good progress” had been made during the fourth session of talks - in Brussels on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 June - for a cooperation agreement between the EU and Cuba.
While progress was solid in two of the three chapters of the negotiations - cooperation for one, and the economy and trade for the other - the negotiators came up against difficulties on the third chapter - political dialogue - where differences on human rights remain considerable.
“We have near complete agreement on the economic and trade chapter, very broad agreement on the cooperation chapter, and much better understanding of our ambitions and sensitivities on the political dialogue chapter”, the source stated.
As regards the economic and trade chapter, the parties still need to find agreement on “sensitive issues” - especially economic and social reforms, and migrants. “It's not about negotiating a preferential agreement, but about consolidating the technical framework that governs our economic and trade relations to secure the economic climate for operators”, the source continued.
As regards the chapter on political dialogue, the marked differences require more work. “We need better understanding of our ambitions and concerns. It is no great secret that our views on what represents effective and accountable governance on how fundamental rights should be interpreted and applied diverge. We must ensure that we accommodate these differences”, the source stated.
At the end of talks on Tuesday, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that the session had been “a useful exchange on the question of political dialogue, allowing each side to express their positions and aspirations”.
A fifth round of talks will take place in Havana in September. On Tuesday, EUROPE's diplomatic source did not want to speculate on the possibility of an agreement before the end of the year, simply repeating what High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has said during her visit to Havana on 24 March - that she would like to conclude this agreement before the end of 2015 (see EUROPE 11282).
The EU froze its relations with Cuba in 2003 following Cuba's crackdown against human rights supporters and journalists. However, in early 2014, the EU began talks for a cooperation agreement after relations between the US and Cuba began to thaw. (Emmanuel Hagry)