Last updated in October 2009
Political relations
Political relations have been strained since the wave of repression in spring 2003 and the measures taken by the EU in response to this. Since the beginning of 2005, following the suspension of the measures against Cuba agreed in the framework of the EU, there has been a process of rapprochement, most clearly reflected in the opening of talks aimed at establishing a dialogue between the EU and Cuba as equal partners on all issues of mutual interest.
The measures were definitively lifted in June 2008. Then, in October 2008, it was agreed to resume both political dialogue and development cooperation between the EU and Cuba.
Economic relations
Bilateral economic relations have stabilized over the past few years. In 2008, German exports to Cuba were worth EUR 204.7 million and Cuban exports to Germany EUR 41.0 million. Germany’s principal exports go to Cuba’s electricity and water supply industries and transport sector and also include medical equipment. However, official trade figures give only an incomplete picture of the volume of trade between the two countries because a great many consignments to Cuba are handled via Dutch importers (especially nickel) and therefore do not appear in bilateral statistics. The same applies to trade via Spanish importers and exporters, who include German products in their range of goods and export them to Cuba via Spain, or who import Cuban products and resell them to Germany. Only very few German companies are engaged in investment activities of their own in Cuba.
Another important element in bilateral economic relations is German tourism to Cuba, which has, however, been declining overthe past few years. Of the approximately 2.3 million foreign tourists that currently visit Cuba each year, just over 100,000 come from Germany. Germany ranks fifth among the countries of origin, after Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy.
In 2000, a German-Cuban debt rescheduling agreement settled the matter of Cuba’s foreign debts to Germany, enabling Hermes export credit guarantees to be resumed as well. Applications for federal investment guarantees for German direct investments can now also be submitted again.
Development cooperation
As of July 2003, Cuba ceased all direct public development cooperation with the EU and the governments of its member states in response to the measures imposed by the EU. The lifting of the measures and the visit by EU Development Commissioner Michel in autumn 2008 instituted the resumption of development cooperation between the EU and Cuba. With no framework agreement in place on development cooperation between Germany and Cuba, there is still no bilateral development cooperation.
Cultural relations
Cultural cooperation, in particular scientific, research and academic exchange, is currently an important pillar of bilateral relations, though projects with German government involvement still meet with Cuban opposition. There is no bilateral cultural agreement between Germany and Cuba. However, Germany officially participated in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 book fairs in Havana and organized the German Culture Weeks in summer 2009.
An important target group for cultural exchange are the estimated 30,000 Cubans who have studied or worked in Germany, especially in the former GDR. Below the level of a formal cultural agreement, the German Embassy in Havana is engaged in extensive programme and language work. There is much bilateral exchange of individual artists and ensembles (e.g. Cuban music or dance groups travelling to Germany) and this sometimes takes place on a commercial basis without public funding.
