Socialist MEPs visit Cuba, plead for stronger ties

Socialist MEPs visit Cuba, plead for stronger ties
EurActiv.com 08:20

On a visit to Cuba, MEPs from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group
pleaded for the European Union to develop a more structured relationship
with the Communist country.

Visiting Cuba from 5 to 8 January, the delegation is being led by S&D
president Gianni Pittella, and accompanied by the Chair of the
Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, Elena
Valenciano, and the S&D spokesperson on development policy, Norbert Neuser.

"It's unfair that Cuba is the only Latin American country not linked to
the EU by a legal instrument. We will be monitoring the political
situation, and the ongoing programmes to reinforce economic growth,
social cohesion and the competitiveness of the country," Pitella said in
a statement.

Spanish news agency EFE reports that meeting with representatives of the
Cuban parliament, Pittella reaffirmed S&D's support for the successful
conclusion of negotiations between the island and the EU of an agreement
on political dialogue and cooperation in the next six months.

The EU-Cuba talks on normalising ties drag on, however, over the
sensitive subject of human rights.

Pittella stressed that the Socialists and Democrats "has always been in
favor of strengthening and maintaining the cooperative dialogue with
Cuba" and reportedly welcomed the decision of decision of the Obama
administration to end the embargo with Cuba.

In fact, the White House just announced that Obama will visit Cuba in
the course of the year and work for the normalization of relations with
its Caribbean neighbour.

Pittella also reportedly said he will propose that a delegation of the
Cuban parliament makes an official visit to the European Parliament.

The parliamentary delegation will also hold meetings with
representatives of the Catholic Church, including Cardinal Jaime Ortega,
and with the government on the island, including the Cuban Minister of
Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla and the Minister for Commerce
Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, among others.

Source: Socialist MEPs visit Cuba, plead for stronger ties | EurActiv -
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/socialist-meps-visit-cuba-plead-stronger-ties-320707