The 28 countries of the European Union (EU) today approved at the level of their ambassadors the signing of a political agreement and cooperation between that bloc and Cuba to normalize their relations

According to the official EU website, the provision – which is still awaiting approval – was taken today by European officials in the Belgian capital and is expected to be ratified shortly by the European Council.

In this way, the Member States support the three initiatives put forward last September by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy and Common Security, Federica Mogherini.

The Italian commissioner insisted that such measures would formally repeal the so-called common position (a policy that the European body has applied to regulate its ties with Cuba since 1996) and thus encourage better relations between the EU and the Caribbean nation.

The EU Council of Ministers must approve the decision taken on Wednesday, which also needs the consent of the European Parliament so that the pact can be applied.

Finally, the EU anticipated that Mogherini and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez will hold the official heading of the document next Monday.

Cuba and the EU began the process of negotiating this agreement in April 2014, a start of the partnership signed on March 11 of this year, during a ceremony to which Mogherini attended in Havana.