Visit of European Union Ambassador to Cuba to Trinidad Opens New Doors for International Cooperation

“Cuba and the European Union have been partners for a long time, a relationship fostered through the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation—a very important framework within which we intend to continue working,” stated His Excellency Mr. Jens Urban, Ambassador of the European Union in Cuba, at the conclusion of his visit to the municipality of Trinidad in Sancti Spíritus.

The diplomat and his accompanying delegation met with Tania Gutiérrez Fontanills, President of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power; Ernesto Borges Medina, Mayor of the municipality; and Ignacio Pérez Cabrera, Director of Foreign Trade, International Relations, and Foreign Investment for the Government of Sancti Spíritus, among other local authorities.

Gutiérrez Fontanills officially welcomed the European Union delegation and thanked them for their visit, while outlining the main socioeconomic characteristics of the city, which holds significant international distinctions such as World Heritage Site, City of Crafts, and Creative City.

The delegation, also comprising Amaya Olivares, International Cooperation Programs Officer at the EU Embassy in Cuba, and Pablo Benítez, Deputy Head of Mission, attended the inauguration of the exhibition Doble mirada de Europa (A Double Look at Europe) by Cuban photographers Neysis González and Julio Larramendi.

In his address to the public, Jens Urban reiterated his gratitude to the authorities and to Trinidad for the welcome. He further expressed that the exhibition reveals emblematic places of the European continent captured through the lenses of two Cuban photographers. “It is a mirror that gives us another perspective and tells us who we are. The more recent history of our continent unites us with yours,” he affirmed.

The diplomat also appreciated the rich history preserved in the houses, streets, and squares of this colonial town and visited some of its museums, cultural institutions, and galleries, where he acknowledged the city's cultural and heritage values. Trinidad is the second city in the country he has visited officially since his appointment as EU Ambassador to Cuba.

The itinerary also included several sites where the internationally funded Sustainable Municipalities Project, supported by the European Union, is being implemented. This project proposes a management model focused on agroecological production, energy transition, innovation, and participatory governance.

The tour featured exchanges with producers and other local stakeholders, as well as with other international organizations such as the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme, alongside national counterparts including the Ministries of Economy and Planning and of Science, Technology and Environment, through its Local and Community Development Center, all collaborating in this initiative.

Jens Urban emphasized that significant opportunities exist for working together based on mutual commitment. “It is important to define the areas, and one of them is the Sustainable Municipalities Project. There is great potential in Trinidad, and cooperation in the cultural sphere is also highly enriching,” he concluded.