Brussels, 01/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Europeans and Cubans will meet in Havana on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 March to continue their negotiations for finalising a bilateral association and cooperation agreement over the course of 2016.
With the economic and trade sections of this agreement already tied up (see EUROPE 11445), the negotiators will focus on the preamble and initial and final arrangements of the text. With regard to the political dialogue and cooperation sections of the agreement, there are still “loose ends to tie up”, a European source stated. The source hoped that “progress” would be made on bringing the two sides closer together - especially on issues linked to migration, education and fighting against the proliferation of arms.
As regards the sensitive issue of Cuba's political system, the EU gives assurances that it has never been a case of discussing the challenge of a multi-party system in Cuba. “Our tradition is not to prescribe but to accompany”, this source stated, mentioning the creation of a framework and an agenda that can enable a dialogue on this in the future.
Two years after being launched, the negotiations do not yet seem mature for imminent finalisation of an agreement. This is due to come about over the course of 2016 in the presence of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
US President Barack Obama will make a historic visit to Cuba at the end of March, but the EU does not believe the Cubans are interested in re-establishing diplomatic relations with the US any longer. “The EU is a more important partner for Cuba than the US, and it is likely to remain that way for some time”, this European source states. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)