EU Ready to Negotiate with Cuba

HAVANA TIMES — The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), Catherine Ashton, said last week that the European Commission will prepare negotiating directives with a view to signing a bilateral agreement with Havana.

According to Europa Press, the high representative has stated that this internal process may “accelerate, slow down or stop, depending on events on the ground in Cuba.” Similarly, she made it clear that the Common Position remains “valid” and that it conditions all progress in improving relations on the extent to which democratic reforms are carried out on the island.

Foreign ministers of the EU agreed this past November to initiate the procedures for negotiating a cooperation agreement with Cuba on the basis of the proposed negotiation directives, which must be presented to the European Commission.