EU Will Hold the Second Joint Council in Havana

The European Union (EU) and Cuba will hold its second Joint Council meeting in Havana on September 9. This meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the EU Commission, the Hon. Federica Mogherini.

The agenda of the Council will cover a review of the status of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), signed in 2016 between Cuba and the EU and its member states.

On September 3, the first meeting of the Joint Committee between Cuba and the European Union will also be held in Havana, to assist the Council in fulfilling its functions and obligations .

This meeting will be chaired by Emilio Lozada García, General Director of Bilateral Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Cuba and Hugo Sobral, Deputy Director for The Americas in the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the EU.

The EU and its member states and Cuba have held diplomatic relations since September 28, 1988.

The EU and its member states hold a progressive view of its relations with Cuba and have vigorously defended the EU’s right to invest and do business in Cuba.

European Union (EU) leaders have made clear their opposition to the enactment of Title III of the Helms Burton regulations. The EU has threatened to sue the U.S. over its Cuba sanctions by challenging the U.S. at the World Trade Organization. The EU has predicted that counterclaims against American companies in European courts will take place if it tries to interfere with its business ties with Cuba.