Signature of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Cuba could come about before the end of the year, possibly at the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 12 December.
Alongside this, the Council of the EU will have to put an end to the 1996 common position that makes the EU's full cooperation with Cuba conditional upon the improvement of the country's human rights and political liberties situation. "Signature of the association agreement cannot take place if the common position is still in force", a political source close to the issue stated on Monday 28 November. In this source's view, Fidel Castro's death overnight on 25-26 November, does not really give any more impetus to the procedure. He had already handed power over to his brother in 2008.
Negotiations for the future EU-Cuba cooperation agreement were completed in March (see EUROPE 11510). The agreement comprises three sections – political, economic and trade – and will enable Europeans to accompany the socio-economic transition underway in Cuba without interfering in the country's domestic affairs.
At the European institutions, the death of Fidel Castrol – a highly controversial but key personality of the 20th century – left only European Council President Donald Tusk indifferent. "With the death of Fidel Castro, the world has lost a man who was a hero for many. He changed the course of his country and his influence reached far beyond", said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, believing that Castro's "legacy will be judged by history". Expressing her sincere condolences to Fidel Castro's family and friends, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said his death came at a time when Cuba was facing "great challenges". The EU-Cuba cooperation agreement will open "a new chapter" in bilateral relations, she said. Europe stands alongside the Cuban people "looking towards the future"', outgoing European Parliament President Martin Schulz tweeted. By contrast, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström was surprised at the number of tributes paid to Fidel Castro, seeing him only as "a dictator who oppressed his people for 50 years". "In Cuba, there has been no freedom of expression, in the Commission there is", Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said ironically on Monday. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)