(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission is willing to engage in a "constructive political dialogue" with Cuba's new President Raul Castro, Louis Michel, the EU's Development and Aid Commissioner said Monday.

Michel "takes note" of Castro's nomination to succeed his ailing brother and long-time leader Fidel Castro as new president of Cuba, the EU's executive arm said in a statement.

"The European Commission stands ready to continue working with the Cuban government, in coordination with our European Union partners, to improve and deepen cooperation issues of common interest such as the environment and climate change," it said.

The change at the head of the Cuban regime comes amid a debate among European nations over whether to normalise relations with Havana.

Michel, who will visit Cuba next week, also "stated his willingness to engage in a constructive political dialogue with Raul Castro."

The EU official's trip to Cuba on March 6-7 had been planned before 81-year-old Fidel Castro, who led Cuba's revolution, announced last week his decision to step down.

He believes the visit "offers an opportunity to advance the European Union's dialogue process with the Cuban government."

The European Union imposed political and diplomatic sanctions on Cuba after Castro's regime sentenced 75 dissidents to lengthy prison terms and executed three young Cubans who had tried to flee to the United States by boat.

The sanctions -- which notably included restrictions on bilateral government visits -- were suspended in January 2005 at Spain's initiative, following the release of several dissidents.

Some of the 27 EU member states, led by Spain which normalised its relations with Havana last year, are in favour of definitively dropping the sanctions which were introduced in 2003 but suspended two years later.

But objections continue to be voiced, notably from Britain and the Czech Republic, which believe normalisation should not take place without democratic reforms in Cuba.

The definitive lifting of EU sanctions would require a unanimous decision, impossible at present. Currently the suspension of sanctions is renewed on a six-monthly basis.

Last week the EU Commission Tuesday stressed its willingness to re-engage in political dialogue with Cuba to promote a peaceful transition to democracy, following Fidel Castro's decision to step down.

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