Cuba and the EU sign agreement to mitigate the impact of Covid-19

Cuba and the European Union (EU) signed Friday a cooperation agreement to implement the project 'Saving lives and mitigating the impact of the Covid-19", as part of the second Political Dialogue on Sustainable Development.

The meeting, held virtually, also addressed the shared priorities on sustainable development and gave follow-up to the one held in April 2019, under the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the European Union.

According to a note published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the island, the agreement establishes the financing of 1.5 million Euros by the EU, destined to the actions that will be executed in the Caribbean nation to diminish the harmful effects of the current pandemic.

In a respectful and constructive atmosphere, both delegations also referred to the prospects for collaboration in different multilateral forums. They reaffirmed their commitment to international cooperation on sustainable development and their strong support for the Paris Agreement.

They also exchanged views on the need for urgent transformation to reverse global warming, strategies for moving toward a knowledge economy based on social inclusion, and the role of health systems and biotechnology in confronting Covid-19.

The representation of Cubas further emphasized that the U.S. economic blockade is the country's main obstacle to achieving the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the National Plan for Economic and Social Development through 2030.