Brussels--The EU and Cuba have made progress on normalising strained ties but sharp differences over human rights remain a problem and require more work, EU sources said Wednesday.
The European Union froze relations with Cuba in 2003 after a crackdown on activists and journalists but opened talks early last year as Washington warmed to Communist-ruled Havana after more than 50 years of unrelenting hostility.
A senior EU official said a fourth round of talks in Brussels had made real progress on trade and overall cooperation but there remained a lot of work to do on human rights.
"It is no great secret that our views on what represents effective and accountable governance on how fundamental rights should be interpreted and applied... diverge," said the official who asked not to be identified.
"We need to work longer to have a better understanding," the official added.
At the same time, the official said "we have a near complete agreement on trade and economic issues; we have a very broad agreement on cooperation."
The 28-nation EU and Cuba are aiming to sign a political framework for dialogue and cooperation by the end of 2015.
The Cuban foreign ministry said Tuesday that the Brussels talks were "a useful exchange on the question of political dialogue, allowing each side to express their positions and aspirations."
A fifth round of talks will be held in September in Havana.
AFP
