The European Parliament adopted by 567 votes to 65, with 31 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

Following the recommendation by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Parliament approved the conclusion of the agreement.

The agreement is the first bilateral political agreement between the European Union and Cuba. It is based on a three-pillar structure:

• political dialogue covering issues such as human rights;
• cooperation and sector policy dialogue;
• trade and trade cooperation.

It should be noted that, on 5 July 2017, Parliament adopted a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Elena VALENCIANO (S&D, ES) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of Agreement.

As a reminder, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, which the EU signed with Cuba in December 2016, defines general principles and objectives for the relationship between the EU and Cuba. It builds essentially on three main chapters:

• political dialogue on issues such as human rights, small arms and disarmament, migration, drugs, fight against terrorism, and sustainable development;
• cooperation and sector policy dialogue: human rights, governance, justice, civil society, social and economic development, environment as well as regional cooperation;
• trade and trade cooperation: cooperation on customs, trade facilitation, technical norms and standards, sustainable trade and investment.

In the explanatory statement accompanying the report, it is stressed that this Agreement is a necessary and appropriate instrument which will provide a framework for the relations that the EU and Cuba.

As an international legal instrument, it offers a model for a new-generation agreement which sets out very clear political dialogue and human rights commitments.

Through this Agreement, the EU is pledging to accompany Cuba in its evolution while fully respecting its autonomy, sovereignty and independence.

As regards trade and economic relations in general, the Agreement will provide a stronger framework to match the scale that these relations have already reached.

This is the first bilateral political agreement that the EU and Cuba have signed. Parliament’s support should be critical and vigilant, applying the same demands and the same level of respect that is applied to other partners who have pledged to share the EU’s values and aspirations.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement  between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if the European Parliament has approved it.

BACKGROUND: the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Union and Cuba are committed to consolidating and strengthening their relations in the areas of political dialogue, cooperation and trade on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, common interest and respect for the sovereignty of the Parties.

The Agreement must now be approved

CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

For more details on the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial joint proposal of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, of 21.09.2016.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement  between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other.

PROPOSED ACT: Joint Proposal for a Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: relations between the European Union and Cuba are currently governed by the EU's Common Position 96/697/CFSP of 2 December 1996.

On 10 February 2014, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to open negotiations for a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

The negotiations began on 29 April 2014 and were concluded after seven rounds in March 2016. The Agreement was initialled on 11 March 2016 in Havana, in the presence of the High Representative and the Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation.

The European Parliament was also kept informed throughout the negotiations.

It is now necessary to approve the Agreement.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve, on behalf of the Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and it Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The Agreement should supersede Common Position 96/697/CFSP.

The PDCA is the first bilateral agreement between the EU and Cuba. It aims to consolidate and strengthen links between the parties in the areas of political dialogue, cooperation and trade, on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, common interest and respect for their sovereignty.

The relationship will be geared to supporting the modernisation of the Cuban economy and society, cooperating bilaterally and in international fora with a view to strengthening human rights and democracy, countering discrimination and achieving the sustainable development goals.

The Agreement builds essentially on a three-pillar structure:

• political dialogue: the relevant provisions cover a range of policy areas, including human rights, small arms and light weapons, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, serious crimes of international concern (including the International Criminal Court), unilateral coercive measures (i.e. US embargo),  combating the production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs,  combating racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and sustainable development;
• cooperation and sector policy dialogue: these provisions cover a very wide range of areas for future cooperation, including political and legal (governance and human rights, justice, citizen security and migration), social, environmental, economic and developmental issues. Particular attention is also given to regional (Caribbean and Latin American) integration and cooperation;
• trade and trade cooperation: this part codifies the conventional (WTO-related) basis for EU-Cuba trade. In addition, it includes provisions on trade facilitation and cooperation in areas such as technical barriers to trade and standards, with a view to improving the prospects for deeper economic relations. It also includes a clause envisaging the future development of a stronger framework for investments.

The Agreement also establishes an institutional framework composed of a Joint Council and a Joint Committee and includes a provision on the fulfilment of obligations. The Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period and can be terminated at six months’ notice.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement  between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other.

PROPOSED ACT: Joint Proposal for a Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: relations between the European Union and Cuba are currently governed by the EU's Common Position 96/697/CFSP of 2 December 1996.

On 10 February 2014, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to open negotiations for a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part.

The negotiations began on 29 April 2014 and were concluded after seven rounds in March 2016. The Agreement was initialled on 11 March 2016 in Havana, in the presence of the High Representative and the Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation.

The European Parliament was also kept informed throughout the negotiations.

It is now necessary to approve the Agreement.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council approve, on behalf of the Union, the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and it Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Cuba, of the other part is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The Agreement should supersede Common Position 96/697/CFSP.

The PDCA is the first bilateral agreement between the EU and Cuba. It aims to consolidate and strengthen links between the parties in the areas of political dialogue, cooperation and trade, on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, common interest and respect for their sovereignty.

The relationship will be geared to supporting the modernisation of the Cuban economy and society, cooperating bilaterally and in international fora with a view to strengthening human rights and democracy, countering discrimination and achieving the sustainable development goals.

The Agreement builds essentially on a three-pillar structure:

• political dialogue: the relevant provisions cover a range of policy areas, including human rights, small arms and light weapons, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, serious crimes of international concern (including the International Criminal Court), unilateral coercive measures (i.e. US embargo),  combating the production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs,  combating racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and sustainable development;
• cooperation and sector policy dialogue: these provisions cover a very wide range of areas for future cooperation, including political and legal (governance and human rights, justice, citizen security and migration), social, environmental, economic and developmental issues. Particular attention is also given to regional (Caribbean and Latin American) integration and cooperation;
• trade and trade cooperation: this part codifies the conventional (WTO-related) basis for EU-Cuba trade. In addition, it includes provisions on trade facilitation and cooperation in areas such as technical barriers to trade and standards, with a view to improving the prospects for deeper economic relations. It also includes a clause envisaging the future development of a stronger framework for investments.

The Agreement also establishes an institutional framework composed of a Joint Council and a Joint Committee and includes a provision on the fulfilment of obligations. The Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period and can be terminated at six months’ notice.