EU-Cuba Joint Council Meeting Press Conference

By EU Reporter Correspondent

The EU-Cuba Joint Council met for the second time on September 9, 2019, in Havana, Cuba. It discussed how to maintain momentum in the implementation of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), which has been provisionally applied since November 2017.

“The Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Cuba is a sign of the importance we attach to our relations. We hope that the new chapter we have opened can further strengthen the friendship between the people of Europe and of Cuba. This is why we are here: to celebrate and to further strengthen our dialogue and co-operation.”Statement by Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

“The celebration of this second Joint Council is an example of the progress of the relations with the EU. It allows to take stock of this progress and to outline future actions of mutual benefit.”Statement by Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba

The Joint Council reviewed the five structured political dialogues launched under the agreement in key areas: human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, conventional arms control, unilateral restrictive measures and sustainable development.

It also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation programmes in areas such as culture, energy, agriculture and economic modernisation. The two sides agreed to launch sectoral policy dialogues in the fields of energy, agriculture, environment and climate change.

Trade and investment between the EU and Cuba, including the extraterritorial effects of the US Helms-Burton legislation, were also discussed.

In addition, the Joint Council touched upon regional and global issues, such as recent developments in Latin America and the Caribbean, including EU-CELAC relations. They also discussed coordination in multilateral fora in areas such as climate change and sustainable and inclusive development.

The Joint Council was co-chaired by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the Cuba Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

News Source: EU Reporter News Agency