Louis Michel, the European Union Commissioner in Charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid, has made it clear that the EU is working toward revising and updating its position on political change in Cuba. Current policy is defined by the “Common Position,” elaborated in 1996, which states in its opening paragraph:
The objective of the European Union in its relations with Cuba is to encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people. A transition would most likely be peaceful if the present regime were itself to initiate or permit such a process. It is not European Union policy to try to bring about change by coercive measures with the effect of increasing the economic hardship of the Cuban people.
This last point, of course, is a refusal to engage in any US embargo-like activities as a method for encouraging change on the island. It seems the first points—that the EU will actively encourage a process of transition in Cuba toward democratic ideals—are the ones up for review.
Interestingly, the reason Michel gives for a possible revision of the Common Position has nothing to do with change on the island. He cites improved relations between Cuba and the countries of the EU as the basis for reviewing and updating the document. Just last October (2008), he re-opened full relations and political dialogue with Cuba—a dialogue that he points out includes issues of human rights, a central concern of the EU.
Bruno Rodriguez, the still-new Cuban Foreign Minister, has called the Common Position “unacceptable,” and will participate in discussions in May regarding probable changes to it. Meanwhile, the official EU review will occur in June 2009.
