Havana - The first dialogue on sustainable development between Cuba and the European Union (EU) is taking place here on Tuesday, on the basis of an agreement on political dialogue and cooperation that was signed in 2016 and came into force provisionally in 2017.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the Cuban delegation will be headed by the director general for Multilateral Affairs and International Law at the Foreign Ministry, Rodolfo Reyes, while the EU group will be chaired by the director general for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi.

The achievements made by Cuba and the EU in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals are being discussed at the meeting, held at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry in Havana, where the two parties are expected to sign new mechanisms of cooperation.

Regarding the meeting, the Cuban Government noted that it prioritizes sustainable development and the 2030 agenda, a multilateral mechanism different from the unilateralism of the US blockade of Cuba.

Cuba has put in place a nationwide mechanism, led by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, to implement the 2030 Agenda and coordinate the work with national institutions, civil society and the Cuban academia.

Cuba maintains full diplomatic relations with the EU and all its 28 member States.