Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos says Madrid will work to improve European Union ties with Cuba. Minister Moratinos made the announcement after a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez.

Spain takes over as EU president on 1 January 2010 and says it intends to use its six-months as leader of the 27-nation bloc to re-work the EUs existing Common Position on Cuba, which was adopted in 1996. The current EU Position on Cuba calls for protecting human rights and progress towards democracy as conditions for normal relations with the Caribbean communist nation.
 

Minister Moratinos emphasised that any new agreement with Cuba would also emphasise human rights. Havana has welcomed the move.