Back on the good track: historical institutionalism and the new political model between the EU and Cuba

Resumen

The beginning of the negotiations of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) in 2014 opened the way for the birth and implementation of the New Political Model (NPM) between the European Union and Cuba (EU-Cuba). The birth of the NPM meant the beginning of a relationship under equal conditions and non-interference, and it reinforced the political dialogue and the cooperation. The main objectives of the NPM-PDCA are to promote the welfare of the Cuban society and the transformation of its economy, setting away the relationship from the Common Position established in 1996. This article analyzes some of the peculiarities of the process of negotiation and signing and the provisional implementation of the agreement from 2016 towards 2021, until the completion of its ratification process, both by member-states and the European Parliament. From an institutional-historic approach, we will explain the reason why the NPM means a milestone in the relationship between the EU and Cuba, as it enabled the parties to build a new space of mutual respect and understanding. Beyond the specific case, the article also emphasizes the potential for implementation of this Agreement by the EU in its rapport with Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Global South.