The EU and Cuba renew and widen their relationships

The EU28 Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted the Directives proposed by the Commission on April 2013. Ashton: “This is not a policy change from the past,” as she hopes Cuba will do what is necessary on its side, especially on the question of human rights

The Union opens its doors to Cuba. The EU28 Foreign Minister have adopted Negotiating Directives for a bilateral Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement with Cuba to be carried out by the Commission. The text represent a step forward in the relationship with Cuba, which for the first time could develop direct relationships with Brussels. So far, Cuba had contacts with the EU only in case of emergencies (e.g. humanitarian aid from the Union in case of hurricanes) or in wider regional negotiations. Cuba is part of the dialogue between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean dialogues (EU-CELAC) as part of CELAC – but has never had other kinds of dialogue out of that context. The proposal for negotiating directives for a bilateral political dialogue and co-operation agreement, presented by the European Commission on April 2013, was unanimously approved – being already technically approved by the COREPER (Permanent Representatives Committee).

The Foreign Affairs Ministers are stretching out their hands to Raul Castro’s government, which is quietly trying to enter the “outside world” after years of isolations. Actually, the EU is Cuba’s biggest external investor: it is also Cuba’s second most important trading partner (accounting for 20% of total Cuban trade) and the second biggest source of Cuban imports (20%). EU-Cuba cooperation was resumed in October 2008, and since then, the Commission has committed over € 86 million for cooperation on post-hurricane reconstruction and rehabilitation, food security, climate change and renewable energy, culture, and education – currently over 50 projects have been started or are being started. These figures could grow in case of positive outcomes from the negotiation mandate.

“I am confident these negotiations will help consolidate our engagement with Cuba,” said the High Representative of the Union for foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. “This is not a policy change from the past,” she added, “We have consistently raised human rights concerns which will remain at the core of this relationship.” Representative Ashton highlighted that the Union wants “to support reform and modernisation in Cuba.”

“I also hope that Cuba will do what is necessary on its side, especially on the question of human rights,” she added, given that “the pace of our negotiations will reflect this.”

It will not take a short time to reach an agreement: it will take the European Commission one or two years to obtain an agreement from the beginning of the negotiation process, and two or three months will be required for the translation process. The real dark horse of this race is given by the forthcoming European Parliament elections – which could make the process even longer. Cuba is the only Caribbean country, together with Venezuela, without direct relationships with the Union. In Brussels, everyone is aware of the possibility of a long negotiating process, but the result obtained so far is in any case positively welcomed.

First, Cuba so far has never had bilateral direct relationship with the European Union; then, a European common position on Cuba will represent a step forward, overcoming Member States’ different positions. The Union has never backed publicly a dialogue with local authorities (as for Myanmar, for instance); on the other hand, some Member State is currently undergoing relations with Cuba from an “individual” and not communitarian point of view.