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European Commission proposes political dialogue, cooperation agreement with Cuba

Xinhua, September 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Commission has adopted a proposal to the Council of the European Union (EU) on the signing of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with Cuba, said a Commission press release here on Thursday.

According to the Commission, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini had also sent a proposal to the council to formally repeal the EU's 1996 Common Position on Cuba.

Both proposals will now be reviewed by the council before their final adoption and the signature of the PDCA in coming months.

"The adoption of both decisions by the Council and the implementation of the PDCA will be a turning point in EU-Cuba relations," said the press release.

According to the Commission, the agreement reflects the expansion and strengthening of EU-Cuba relations, building on the important progress made since the relaunch of political dialogue and cooperation in 2008. Once signed, the agreement will become the instrument that defines the EU's external relations with Cuba, superseding the stance taken since 1996.

The agreement includes three main chapters on political dialogue, cooperation and sector policy dialogue as well as trade cooperation.

According to the EU side, both Cuba and the EU are currently working through their corresponding internal processes to ensure a swift signature of the PDCA, possibly towards the end of 2016, to allow its provisional application in 2017. In parallel, the agreement will be submitted to the European Parliament, EU member states national parliaments, and the Cuban National Assembly for ratification. Endit