High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell will travel to Cuba on 25-27 May to represent the EU at the third Joint Council, co-chaired on the Cuban side by Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez. The Joint Council, established by the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), meets regularly since 2018. The PDCA enshrines the EU's policy approach of critical but constructive engagement towards Cuba.

The visit will be an opportunity to take stock of the bilateral relationship, and also to discuss regional and global issues.

During his stay, HR/VP Borrell will meet with the Cuban authorities, Cuban businesspeople, and a range of voices from Cuban society sharing their perspectives on Cuba's challenges and opportunities, as well as the EU business community and EU Member States present in the country. He will also visit EU-funded development cooperation projects.

The visit is also part of EU outreach to Latin American and Caribbean countries in the run-up to the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit to take place in Brussels on 17-18 July.

The EU is Cuba's most important trade, investment and cooperation partner. The EU continues to support projects in areas including agriculture, energy, ecological transition, economic modernisation and support of the incipient private sector to ultimately help improve the lives of Cuban people.