Weekly Report - 13 March 2008 (ISSN 1741-7422)

European Union member states will soon come under renewed pressure to change their do-nothing policy over Cuba. Speaking during a three-day visit to Cuba last week, the European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, Louis Michel, said that he had found a new "open-mindedness" in Cuba. His comments echoed those of the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who conducted a six-day visit to Cuba in late February. Michel will deliver a report to the European Council, the EU's highest political body, advocating that the EU should break the current deadlock and hold talks with President Raúl Castro.