EU and Cuba sign deal to normalize relations

World Today

Cuba and the European Union signed a deal to normalize relations Friday. It is a breakthrough in ties between Cuba and the EU.

CCTV’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

After two years of tough negotiations, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Frederica Mogherini flew to Cuba to finalize the deal.

The agreement will allow the European bloc to establish full economic cooperation and aid with Cuba and maintain a political dialogue on issues including human rights. It now has to be ratified by each of the 28 EU member states and the Cuban government.

The EU suspended official relations with Cuba in 2003 over a crackdown on journalists and activists. But bilateral relations between individual countries were never broken.

The negotiations began before the United States and Cuba announced their agreement to restore diplomatic relations. The final pact comes less than two weeks before U.S. President Barack Obama makes his historic visit to Cuba.


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