Josep Borrell’s first trip to Havana as a senior representative of the European Union’s foreign policy began this Thursday with a clear sign of support for the increasingly important Cuban private sector and a message to the authorities that Brussels stands ready to help deepen economic reform that is happening on the island while the country is going through one of the worst crises in its history, which has led to unprecedented social unrest. Borrell’s visit, which will last until Saturday, comes at a particularly difficult time for the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, which in recent months has intensified its rapprochement with Russia exponentially, both economically and politically. Faced with this situation, European diplomacy is trying to keep the channels of dialogue and influence open and to preserve the spaces created since 2017 with the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the EU, which ended the two decades of distancing The so-called “Common European Position”, promoted by former Spanish President José María Aznar.
Within the framework of this dialogue, for the Twenty-seven the always sensitive issue of progress in the field of human rights is of paramount importance, which will be discussed in the official talks on Friday and which causes not a few tensions on Cuba side, although at least now it can be discussed officially. One of the key issues for Havana is European condemnation of the US embargo and support for their diplomatic efforts to have the Biden administration remove the island from the list of countries that support terrorism, something Borrell has already touched on in past interlocutors in Washington , although nothing has moved so far. The picture in Cuba remains essentially that of the Cold War, with Russia ever closer to and becoming embroiled in the war in Ukraine and the Cuban government hardening in the face of US policies, which it believes are the cause of all its ills is. Faced with this scenario, Europe is playing its cards: “constructive” engagement, but at the same time “critical” on various issues; That said, don’t break the deck and make progress little by little.
Amid the current galloping crisis, the green light given in 2021 for the creation of private MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) with legal personality and up to 100 employees has opened a new scenario on the island. Almost 8,000 have already been established, and although they still operate with numerous bureaucratic hurdles, they have changed the economic panorama of Cuba – one in three Cubans now works in the private sector, which accounts for almost 12%. of GDP, which was an unthinkable reality just a decade ago.
In fact, Borrell’s first public act in Cuba was a meeting with representatives of the new MSMEs, who explained to him the potential of this opening and the problems they face for the success of their companies. “We know that the current context is full of challenges for MSMEs and new economic actors, but also tremendous opportunities,” said the head of European diplomacy, noting that the EU is at their disposal “to support them and with the authorities.” to work together in the region.” looking for solutions to make their contribution to society more sustainable.”
The EU aims to work with relevant Cuban ministries to share “best practices and experiences” on legislation that contributes to modernizing the economy and promoting MSMEs in various ways – through training, technical assistance, advice, access to financing, etc. – and also contribute to greater legal certainty, said Borrell, who scheduled a meeting with European businessmen in the afternoon – the EU is a leader in investment and trade with the island – to also express their support and support. In the period 2021-2024, the EU plans to disburse 91 million euros in different cooperation agreements, 14 of them for the emerging MSME sector, a number that could increase in the coming years.
On his first day in Cuba he also held a meeting with the Cuban Episcopate and on Friday he will meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez to celebrate the third EU-Cuba Joint Council as part of the Political Dialogue and Political Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the European Union. The last physical meeting of this format took place in September 2019, when EU diplomacy was still in the hands of Federica Mogherini. A month later, Borrell went to Havana on one of his last missions, albeit as Spain’s foreign minister, before taking over the Italian’s diplomatic portfolio in December of the same year. Two years later, in 2021, already under Borrell’s leadership, the appointment was limited to a mere informal meeting via video conference due to the pandemic.
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Prior to Borrell’s trip to Cuba, he was asked by several NGOs to raise the issue of the more than 700 prisoners – something Borrell already condemned at the time – and call for their release in his high-level talks for the July 11, 2021 mass demonstrations. How the issue will be discussed and whether the head of European diplomacy will ask the Cuban side for some kind of “gesture” is not known. It can be assumed that it will happen, but in any case it will be discreet, as the current European position is to keep communication channels open to exert influence and that Borrell’s visit must also be read as a multilateral key, as part of EU rapprochement with Latin American and Caribbean countries on the eve of the next EU-CELAC summit to be held in Brussels on 17-18 July. European sources point out that as interim president of the group of 134 developing countries that makes up the G-77+China, Cuba is an “important voice” among developing countries. And when Cuba urges Europe to be more active in getting the US to change its policy of suffocation and remove the island from the list of countries not cooperating in the fight against terrorism, the old diplomatic dilemma arises again: “Help me.” and I’ll help you”.
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