Publication

This paper discusses the relationship between the European Union and Cuba in the light of Fidel Castro's hospitalization in mid-2006, the enigma surrounding the state of his health, as well as possible democratization processes in Cuba. The author argues that although customary statements were expected for expressing diplomatic wishes for a fast recovery, there was a polite silence regarding the political evolution of the regime. Further, he differentiates between EU and US policies toward Cuba, stating that while both support economic recovery, civil society and the opposition, they employ different tactics, namely that European investments aim to construct a more open system, whereas the US extraterritorial laws tend to close it.