Exclusive: Europe to launch talks to upgrade relations with Cuba

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The European Union will agree next month to deepen relations with Cuba in its most significant overture to the communist island since the bloc lifted diplomatic sanctions in 2008, people close to the matter told Reuters.

Foreign ministers from the EU's 28 countries will give the go-ahead on February 10 to launch talks with Havana on a special cooperation accord to increase trade, investment and dialogue on human rights. The pact could be agreed by the end of 2015.

"Cuba wants capital and the European Union wants influence," said one person involved in the talks who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. "This cooperation could serve as a prelude to much more."

Two other people with knowledge of the negotiations told Reuters that a consensus had been reached in Brussels to give momentum to Cuba's market-oriented reforms under President Raul Castro and to position European companies for any transition to a more capitalist economy there in the longer term.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/30/us-eu-cuba-idUSBREA0T0I320140130

[KG]

1. the prez could use this opportunity to get on the right side of history and normalize

relations with cuba. after 50+ years, it's pretty clear sanctions are knocking the commies out of power.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Best left be now.

Cuba can become part of the EU.

[Divernan]

3. EU Adventure Tourist package: observation towers overlooking Guantanamo.

Let the rest of the world see up close the barbaric reality of US foreign policy. Maybe Obama will now be motivated to get ahead of the wave of international opinion by closing Guantanamo and lifting trade sanctions and all travel restrictions, just like he's belatedly pushing for an increase in minimum wage given the increased public dispeasure at wealth disparity in the US. Such an astute politician well understands the advantages of spotting trends and jumping in & joining in at the last minute to try and claim credit.

You jest about Cuba becoming part of the EU, but the EU could well grant special status to it as it has to Turkey.

Should Obama decide to close Guantanamo & lift sanctions against Cuba, it will NOT be out of any concern for human rights, but because his Corporate sponsors want to be in on lucrative trade agreements/market development.

A cooperation pact, which the EU has used as a tool in the past to strengthen relations with Central America and Asia, is not likely to increase trade greatly because Cuba sells very little to Europe.

Besides cigars and rum, Cuba's exports are not of huge interest to the EU, but Brussels believes developing business ties is the best way to press for change in Cuba.

The European Union is Cuba's biggest foreign investor and Cuba's second biggest trading partner afterVenezuela, and a third of the tourists to the island every year come from the EU.

Cuba recently opened a Chinese-style special economic zone and is preparing a new foreign investment law. It is seeking foreign investment at its port facilities in Mariel Bay to take advantage of the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-eu-is-cozying-up-to-cuba-2014-1#ixzz2rsnFO3OA

[dipsydoodle]

5. They shut down the observation tower years ago.

The town is pretty much off the beaten track as far as tours of the island go now apart from those who make their way there.

The bit about joing th Eu wasn't a joke

[SCVDem]

4. It's way past time!

There is no good reason that south Florida Cubans should have any more than the usual political power. We are too far removed from the Marxist revolt and the Bay of Pigs . Todays young Cubans couldn't even pass a history test on this, not that other Americans could pass a test on US history.

Open relations and let's put real sugar back in our food. Dump the Aspartame.