EU says US policy change helps its own talks with Cuba
The sudden US engagement with Cuba has helped the European Union's own bilateral talks on improving relations with the Communist-led island, a top European diplomat said on Thursday at the conclusion of two days of negotiations in Havana.
When the United States and Cuba announced on December 17 they would restore diplomatic relations, the rapprochement between longtime adversaries overshadowed the EU's ongoing attempt to rewrite a political agreement with Cuba.
After the United States and Cuba quickly arranged high-level meetings in Havana and Washington, the twice-postponed EU-Cuba talks finally took place this week, the first face-to-face meetings since August.
Asked at a news conference if European interests were threatened by the US engagement, the chief European negotiator called the US role "very positive."
