Brussels, February 5 (RHC)-- The permanent ambassadors of the European Union have given the green light to the opening of negotiations on a bilateral accord with Cuba, Spain's EFE news agency reported on Wednesday.

European Union sources said that following the ambassadors' authorization, the definitive approval will be released next week during a meeting of the European Union's foreign ministers, to take place on Monday, February 10th.

In late 2012, European Union foreign ministers asked the bloc's top diplomat, Catherine Ashton, to explore a possible negotiation of a bilateral agreement with the island.

Brussels could kick off such negotiations with Havana, while the European Union maintains its so-called common position on Cuba, which was promoted in 1996 by the Spanish conservative administration led by Jose Maria Aznar and which conditions bilateral relations with the island to a series of pretexts, rejected by Cuba.

With the announcement on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the European Union have clearance to formally adopt an accord and also to reassess the bloc's common position, an event that may happen after the Council of Ministers approves the negotiation.