25/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - Abandoning Council's “common position” is linked to signing of bilateral association agreement. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, will soon be presenting a proposal for the signing of an EU/Cuba association agreement planned for the end of this year. She will also be putting forward a proposal to terminate the Council's 1996 “Common Position” (EUROPE 11510). This position insists that full cooperation with Cuba depends on the country's ability to improve human rights and political freedoms. The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, had not ruled out provisional application of certain parts of the association agreement if the Common Position was not repealed in parallel on Monday, 18 July in the context of the Foreign Affairs Council. (MB)