Head of European diplomacy Joseph Borel called my government yesterday Bucket “strengthen” the relationship with her European Unionthe main economic partner of the island, in addition to China And Russia.

“I know that Cuba is currently facing, especially in the field of energy, electricity, fuel, a very difficult situation (…) That is why it must strengthen economic ties with the European Union,” said Mr Borel, who is on a visit to Havana. until tomorrow Saturday.

The head of European diplomacy recalled that the EU is the country’s main trading partner under the communist government: it represents 32% of its foreign trade “against 8% of China and 8% of Russia”, and also offers the largest development assistance.

EE is the largest investor in Cuba, “despite all the restrictions” placed on the island under a US “embargo” that has been in place since 1962, Mr. Borrell continued.

“We are much more important than other economic players such as Russia and China,” he insisted, reiterating that the European Union intends to continue to support “economic and social reforms” on the island.

The EU High Representative also expressed his hope that “before the end of the year” Brussels and Havana will start a “dialogue on human rights.”

In his speech, Mr. Borrell announced the allocation of 14 million euros in aid to Cuba’s private sector.

Agreements between Russia and Cuba on the economy

The head of European diplomacy also said he would like to see relations between Cuba and the US “improve”. But “to improve them, it is necessary that the world confront those who attacked one country, Ukraine, for no reason, destabilizing the economy of the whole world,” he added.

Mr. Borrell made the announcement about a week after Russia and Cuba signed agreements in various sectors of the economy, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said his country “unreservedly supports” Moscow “in its conflict with the West.”

Last Wednesday, Cuba was among nine countries – the other eight include China, North Korea and Belarus – that protested in Geneva against a World Health Assembly (WHO) resolution demanding an end to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system. The text was approved by 80 votes.

Earlier, Cuba abstained in a two-vote vote on texts condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly.

Today, Mr. Borrell, together with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, will take part in the EU-Cuba Joint Council under the political cooperation agreement signed in Havana in 2016.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}