Havana, 14 June 2022 (TDI): Representatives of Cuba and the EU held a meeting in Havana to celebrate the third round of Political Dialogue on Sustainable Development.
Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Director-General of Multilateral Affairs and International Law of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs chaired Cuba’s delegation.
Meanwhile, Jolita Butkeviciene, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the General Directorate of International Associations of the European Commission, chaired the EU delegations.
Representantes de #Cuba🇨🇺 y de la Unión Europea (UE) se reunieron este lunes en la sede de la Cancillería cubana, para celebrar la tercera ronda de Diálogo Político sobre Desarrollo Sostenible Cuba-UE.
🔗https://t.co/m7CaRqI5WS pic.twitter.com/acoog7LmAS
— Cancillería de Cuba (@CubaMINREX) June 14, 2022
Moreover, other Cuban officials also participated in the delegation. They included Elizabeth Peña, from the Ministry of Agriculture; Anelis Marichal, Director-General of Planning of the National Institute of Territorial Planning and Urbanism, along with other officials of the Foreign Ministry and Cuban organizations.
Jonathan Hatwell, Head of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Division of the European External Action Service was present.
Furthermore, Isabel Brilhante, Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation in Cuba, and other officials of the EEAS, the European Commission, participated.
In addition, Ambassadors of the EU member states in Cuba were also present. The delegations met in “a respectful and constructive atmosphere.”
During the meeting, the sides identified several potential areas to increase cooperation. The fields included food security, local community development, digital connectivity, and environmentally sustainable policies.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to bilateral cooperation in these fields.
Finally, they agreed to continue the talks within the framework of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the EU
EU-Cuba Relations
The EU and Cuba began contact in 1998. High-level political dialogue between both parties began in 2008. The same year, they launched the first EU-Cuba bilateral cooperation strategy.
Since then, both sides have discussed bilateral relations, regional issues, and global issues to identify potential areas for cooperation.
The sides also seek to strengthen and promote the strategic partnership between the EU and CELAC.
In addition, Cuba maintains bilateral relations with 27 of the EU member states.
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