EU, Cuba Sign First Agreement on Political Dialogue, Cooperation

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla signed an agreement on political dialogue and cooperation.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The heads of the EU member states signed on Monday a historic deal with Cuba on political dialogue and cooperation.

Brussels and Havana finished the negotiations on the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement on March 11. The agreement included a number of issues, aimed at improving political and economic cooperation.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla were the first ones to sign the document, according to the broadcast of the ceremony.

Relations between Cuba and the 28-nation bloc were suspended in 2003 when Brussels introduced sanctions against Havana after over 70 opposition figures were arrested in the Caribbean nation. In April 2014, Havana and Brussels started talks on the normalization of their ties.

The renewed political thaw between the two sides took place amid the efforts of US President Barack Obama to reset relations with Cuba.