BELGIUM.—Negotiating teams from Cuba and the European Union, led by Abelardo Moreno Fernández, vice minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, and Christian Leffler, Managing Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service, respectively, met in Brussels on June 15-16 for the fourth round of talks on the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement that both parties have been negotiating since April last year.
During this fourth round, taking place just a few days after the 2nd CELAC-EU Summit, negotiations on the substantial share of the part of the Agreement referring to trade were completed, and significant results were seen with regard to cooperation, with talks at a very advanced stage.
A useful exchange on the chapter regarding Political Dialogue occurred, allowing the parties to express their respective positions and aspirations.
The meetings were held within a constructive and professional atmosphere, based on the principles that both sides agreed in 2008 including: the unconditional, reciprocal and non-discriminatory character of the talks; full respect for the sovereign equality of states and the legal framework and institutional order of the parties; and total respect for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
The teams agreed to meet again in September in Havana, in order to hold the fifth round of negotiations.
The representatives of Cuba and the European Union confirmed the goodwill of both parties to further advance this process with a view to concluding the negotiations as soon as possible.
