The News

Cuba and Europe sign deal normalizing relations

La representante de la Unión Europea (UE) para Política Exterior, Federica Mogherini, atrás a la izquierda, y el canciller cubano, Bruno Rodríguez, a su lado, observan al negociador de la UE Christian Leffler, izquierda al frente, y a Abelardo Moreno, viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba, cuando firman un acuerdo para normalizar las relaciones, en La Habana, Cuba, el viernes 11 de marzo de 2016. (Ismael Francisco / Cubadebate vía AP)

HAVANA – Cuba and the European Union have signed a deal normalizing their relations after years of tensions spawned by disagreement over human rights on the island.

European Union Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez signed an agreement was signed to establish normal relations. Photo: Ismael Francisco

Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cuba Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez attended the Friday signing, which allows cooperation between Europe and Cuba on projects ranging from environmental protection to modernizing Cuba’s tax-collection system. EU policy had prevented a normal relationship with Cuba until the island opened its single-party political system and centrally planned economy.

“The deal marks a new phase in bilateral relations, a historic demonstration of mutual trust and understanding,” Mogherini said.

The agreement came nine days before President Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit Cuba in 88 years, a trip meant partly to spur business ties between the two countries in the wake of their 2014 declaration of detente.

U.S.-Cuba normalization and the promise of economic growth on the island has prompted renewed interest by European countries in maintaining their position as trading partners with Cuba.