The talks were officially suspended after the June change of power in Honduras, but this week, the European Union and Central American countires agreed to hold a round of talks during the week of February 22nd, hoping to close the agreement in May.

The Europeans will present President Porfirio Lobo with a plan, later this month, that provides a series of steps that will allow Honduras to normalize relations with Brussels, and resume negotiations, along with the other Central American countries of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

In this context, Moratinos said the European Parliament expects Honduras to “rejoin the negotiations as quickly as possible,” noting that Spain “has decided to return its ambassador to Tegucigalpa,” a first gesture toward normalization of diplomatic ties. And noted, “I hope the other European countries follow suit” (with their ambassadors).