Credit: translatingcuba.com /  Federica Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on a 2018  visit of the High Representative of the EU to Havana. (EEAS)

DIPLOMATIC TIMES STAFF

While the U.S. under President Trump is rapidly breaking all political  and  economic ties with Cuba that his predecessor Barack Obama established, the European Union has substantially increased investments in the socialist nation over the past two years.  The EU bloc imported some €470 million worth of Cuban goods in 2017 and exported more than two billion euros’ worth. The Trump administration announced last month it is allowing former owners of commercial property expropriated by Cuba to sue companies and the Cuban government for using or “trafficking” in those confiscated holdings.  In March,  the U.S. Department of State  eliminated the highly sought after 5-year travel visa for Cuban citizens visiting America. The EU has sharply criticized the US for activating,  effective today May 2,  Title III of the 1996 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD).  Lawsuits will now  be allowed in American courts against Cuban companies using property seized during the 1959 revolution.  CARNIVAL,  the Miami-based cruising conglomerate,  was sued in federal court by Mickael Behn and Javier Garcia-Bengochea, both of whom hold claims certified by the federal government for assets confiscated shortly after the Cuban Revolution.     

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini speaks to the Foreign Minister of Cuba today May 4, 2019.

Mogherini spoke today on the phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, according to statement from the EU.  They exchanged views on the latest developments in Venezuela, also in view of the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG), due to take place on 6-7 May in Costa Rica.  Mogherini and Minister Parrilla also discussed about the decision of the United States to enact Title III of the Helms-Burton (LIBERTAD) Act as well as about the next meeting of the EU-Cuba Joint Council.

Trump White House implements new Cuba policy restricting travel and trade

Credit: [Mike Stocker | South Florida Sun-Sentinel via TNS]  President Donald Trump signs his new Cuba policy at the Manuel Artime Theateron June 16, 2017 in Miami, where he unveiled the changes he’s making to the Obama-era policies toward Cuba. 

 European Union Warns Of Legal Action Against U.S. Over Cuba Property Claims

“The decision by the United States to renege on its longstanding commitment to waive Title III of the Helms-Burton (LIBERTAD) Act is regrettable, and will have an important impact on legitimate EU and Canadian economic operators in Cuba. The EU and Canada consider the extraterritorial application of unilateral Cuba-related measures contrary to international law. “

-Joint statement by High Representative / Vice President Federica Moghernini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland, Apri. 17, 2019, Brussels. 

http://www.diplomatmagazine.nl /   H.E. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister and Her Excellency Federica Mogherini in Havana, Cuba   Jan. 4, 2018 – (photo by Council of the European Union)

The High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini traveled to Cuba on 3-4 January, 2018, “reconfirming the strong EU-Cuban relationship”,   the EU stated at the time. 

BRUSSELS  AND HAVANA NORMALIZE RELATIONS IN 2016

In the year 2016,  the EU  dropped its 20-year-old policy on Cuba, which required the country to improve its human rights record before it could strengthen economic ties with member nations.  Brussels and Havana signed an agreement to normalize relations and open channels for dialogue and cooperation.  Federica Mogherini, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, the 28 EU foreign ministers and Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez signed and sealed the pact for political dialogue and cooperation. 

“Cuba is changing in profound ways. With this agreement, the relationship will reach a new level that will really better reflect the ties between the European Union and Cuba,” Mogherini said in Spanish after the signing ceremony. “For the Cuban economy, the relationship with Europe is a priority,” Cuba’s foreign affairs chief added. The European community is the largest investor in Cuba and its second-largest trade partner after Venezuela.