Minister Paolo Gentiloni is in Cuba to “contribute to opening up as much as possible the process of easing tensions with the United State and the EU”. This is the first visit to the island by a European minister since the start of the thaw with Washington. The mission, which takes place with negotiations on an EU-Cuba political and cooperation accord in full swing, and is also aimed at relaunching bilateral relations with Italy.
Meeting with Cuban foreign minister
“We are confident that the process of normalisation between Cuba and the United States will go forward”, Gentiloni said in a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parilla. Also scheduled to meet with the Cuban trade minister, Gentiloni expressed the hope that the reforms under way in Cuba would lead to increased economic cooperation with Italy (SMEs, cooperatives, tourism and renewable energy)
