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EU/Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement

2016/0298(NLE)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Elena VALENCIANO (S&D, ES) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of Agreement.

As a reminder, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, which the EU signed with Cuba in December 2016, defines general principles and objectives for the relationship between the EU and Cuba. It builds essentially on three main chapters:

  • political dialogue on issues such as human rights, small arms and disarmament, migration, drugs, fight against terrorism, and sustainable development;
  • cooperation and sector policy dialogue: human rights, governance, justice, civil society, social and economic development, environment as well as regional cooperation;
  • trade and trade cooperation: cooperation on customs, trade facilitation, technical norms and standards, sustainable trade and investment.

In the explanatory statement accompanying the report, it is stressed that this Agreement is a necessary and appropriate instrument which will provide a framework for the relations that the EU and Cuba.

As an international legal instrument, it offers a model for a new-generation agreement which sets out very clear political dialogue and human rights commitments.

Through this Agreement, the EU is pledging to accompany Cuba in its evolution while fully respecting its autonomy, sovereignty and independence.

As regards trade and economic relations in general, the Agreement will provide a stronger framework to match the scale that these relations have already reached.

This is the first bilateral political agreement that the EU and Cuba have signed. Parliament’s support should be critical and vigilant, applying the same demands and the same level of respect that is applied to other partners who have pledged to share the EU’s values and aspirations.