Commissioner Nielson to visit Cuba

Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid, will carry out an official visit to Cuba from 10 to 14 March. On the occasion of his first visit to Cuba, Mr Nielson will officially inaugurate the new EU Delegation office in Havana. Meetings with key Cuban authorities, representatives of civil society and leading Cuban dissidents are foreseen. Discussions will focus on strengthening the political dialogue between the EU and Cuba and improving EU-Cuban development co-operation. Cuba applied in January 2003 to join the Cotonou Agreement. Mr. Nielson will also visit EU funded projects in the country.

Commissioner Nielson will meet members of the Cuban government including Minister of Foreign Affairs Perez Roque, Mr. Carlos Lage, Vice-President of the Council of State and Mr. Ricardo Alarcon, President of the National Assembly. Meetings with leading Cuban dissidents are also foreseen, among whom will figure Mr Osvaldo Paya, winner of last year's Sakarov Price from the European Parliament. Mr. Nielson will also officially open the new Commission Delegation in Havana. This Delegation will be headed by a Chargé d'Affaires working under the authority of the non-resident Head of Delegation in the Dominican Republic who will be accredited to Cuba.

Co-operation between the EU and Cuba is based on the EU Common Position originally adopted in 1996 and updated since. On the basis of this Common Position, the EU favours constructive dialogue with Cuba. Its objective is to promote a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy, promote respect for human rights and to improve the living conditions of the Cuban people. The Common Position also defines the framework for EU development co-operation in Cuba in all areas where the political, economic and social objectives of the Common Position are concerned, such as democracy, human rights, improvement of living standards and sustainable economic growth.

Since 1993 the Community has financed close to €145 million of assistance measures in Cuba. €90 million of this took the form of humanitarian aid which was phased out in 2002 following a decision by the Commission in 2000 as there was no generalised emergency in Cuba. Humanitarian aid has been replaced at the same level of funding (approximately €15-20 million per year) by development aid promoting economic reform and modernisation, food security and the development of civil society.

As well as being the largest provider of development aid to Cuba, the EU is Cuba's most important trading and investment partner accounting for two thirds of all imports from Cuba and around 80% of all exports to Cuba. Around 1.7 million tourists from the EU visit Cuba each year representing a major source of income for the country. The EU is also the biggest provider of foreign investment.

Political dialogue between Cuba and the EU has intensified over the last 18 months with meetings of top officials in Havana in December 2001 and Copenhagen in November 2002. In January 2003, Cuba officially introduced its request to adhere to the Cotonou Agreement, the political, trade and aid pact which links the EU with the 78 countries of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.

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