On a two-day visit to Havana, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Thursday that the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement — the first of its kind between the EU and Cuba — signed by Brussels and Havana offered a fresh start for bilateral relations.

Read more: EU eyes a fresh start in Cuba relations

Mogherini said the EU is a "predictable and solid" partner that can help Cuba manage its political transition and economic opening.

"We are consistent and we do not have unpredictability in our policies or sudden shifts," Mogherini said, an indirect swipe at US President Donald Trump's reversal of elements of his predecessor Barack Obama's opening with Cuba.

As the United States and Cuba eased relations in 2015-2016, the EU dropped its sanctions on Cuba.

Since Trump took office last year, the US has made it more difficult for Americans to visit Cuba and there have been limits imposed on US-Cuba business transactions.

The US and Cuba opened embassies in each other's capitals during the Obama administration

Havana on board with Brussels

"We are totally prepared to move forward based on a new bilateral agreement that entered into force in November," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Thursday.

"The agreement is a sign of goodwill and mutual respect that will allow us to move forward [...] beyond differences," he added.

Until 2015, EU-Cuba relations were governed by the common position of 1996, in which Brussels demanded more respect for human rights and a transition from a one-party state to a pluralistic democracy.

The EU wants to expand ties to Cuba as the US walks back its deepening of relations

Trade matters

"The agreement provides new potential in the fields of cooperation, trade, investment and also political dialogue," Mogherini said.

"The EU has become Cuba's first trade partner and was already the first in investment and development cooperation [...] which means it is possible to increase the level of economic relations and investments," she said.

A delegation from the European Investment Bank would visit Cuba later this month, she added, noting that cooperation agreements in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, culture and expertise worth €49 million ($59.1 million) would be signed in the near future.

Mogherini and Rodriguez will hold the first joint cooperation meeting between the EU and Cuba in February in Brussels, Mogherini said.

jbh/sms (Reuters, AP, dpa)