EU to explore better ties with Cuba

(LUXEMBOURG) - The EU's top diplomat Catherine Ashton will explore a possible softening of the bloc's stance towards Cuba following its release of dissidents and economic reforms, officials said Monday.

Ashton was given a mandate by foreign ministers of the 27-nation European Union meeting in Luxembourg "to start a reflection period," exploring ways of improving relations with Cuba, a statement said.

Appointed the EU's high representative for foreign and security policy last December, the English baroness was asked "to take soundings with Cuba on the way forward and report back as soon as possible," it added.

A source said she is to finalise the mission ahead of the EU's December summit.

Spain's Socialist government has long argued in favour of the EU moving towards normalisation of ties with Cuba, saying a shift would help accelerate change on the island led by the Castro brothers since 1959.

Diplomats said Spain's newly-appointed foreign minister, Trinidad Jimenez, had made an impassioned plea to improve Brussels-Havana ties at the Monday meeting which moved her counterparts.

Madrid previously faced objections to improving ties with Cuba from Germany, Sweden, as well as former communist bloc nations Poland and the Czech Republic.

They were opposed to change in the EU's "common position," a 1996 stand calling for Cuba to make progress on human rights and democracy before ties are normalised.

Last week, however, the EU welcomed Cuba's decision to free more political prisoners while urging Havana to go further.

"Cuba is willing to engage, to meet us half-way, we need to talk," said an EU diplomat on condition of anonymity.