EU, Cuba sign landmark accord to normalise ties

The European Union and Cuba on Monday inked a milestone agreement in a bid to normalise political relations and enhance trade cooperation after decades of discord.

The Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) was signed by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We are starting to write a new chapter together," Mogherini said at the deal signing ceremony.

The accord aims to broaden political and economic cooperation between Brussels and Havana to areas like sustainable development, democracy and human rights, as well as energy, mining, telecommunications and tourism.

The agreement signed on Monday will remain provisional, until it is ratified by the European Parliament, as well as by each of the member countries.

The accord was formally initialed on March 11, when Mogherini visited Havana for the seventh formal EU-Cuba political dialogue meeting.

--IANS

soni/ahm/vt