Havana - Negotiations toward a new political and cooperation agreement between the European Union (EU) and Cuba will begin soon, the bloc's representative in Havana, Herman Portocarrero, said on Monday.
The 28-nation EU is interested in being present in the process of economic transformation spearheaded by Cuban leader Raul Castro, Portocarrero said.
"We will continue supporting the current reforms and the economic modernization in Cuba."
The EU is also interested in sharing experience with Cuba, Portocarrero said, noting that the bloc currently cooperates with the island in tax matters and food security.
Meanwhile, Portocarrero appreciated Cuba's role in the process of Latin American integration, promoted by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
The envoy emphasized that the new agreement seeks to create a new dynamic in the relationship with Cuba. While it is not a trade agreement, the deal will be useful as a solid framework for cooperation, he added.
The EU is an important trade partner of Cuba, though Cuba's trade exchange is not with the EU as a regional group, but bilaterally with more than half of the bloc's member countries.
In 1996, the EU adopted a common position that adhered closely to the United States' position on Cuba and its economic embargo against the island.
Portocarrero said progress on the new agreement could put an end to that policy by building consensus among the bloc's member countries. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua
