EU signs goodwill treaty with Cuba

Cuba and the European Union signed a historic treaty over the weekend, ending an era of shunning the socialist state.

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• Cuba was previously the only Latin American country to lack an agreement with the EU.
• Parrilla on deal: It “demonstrates that with good will and respect it is possible to make progress and resolve differences.”
• Deal now needs ratification from European Parliament, member state national parliaments, and the Cuban National Assembly.
• EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini: EU-Cuba relations will remain unaffected by the presidency of Donald Trump.
• Mogherini: “Through the new agreement, the EU is ready to support Cuba’s process of economic and social modernization,”
• Cuban and EU officials signed a normalization deal in March, but still lack ratification from member states.
• Latest deal made possible after the EU repealed a 1996 policy which stated Cuba must first improve its human rights conditions before a full normalization of ties could happen.