Deputy speaker of the House of Commons and Labour MP Sylvia Heal

"We hope that the European Union will continue to work with the Cuban government so that there will be improvement in some things that have been a little difficult," Heal told Reuters during a four-day visit to Havana.

She urged Brussels to build on common ground with Havana.

"That's the important thing, that we maintain a dialogue," she said before a lunch meeting with Ricardo Alarcon, president of Cuba's National Assembly and a top aide to ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

A crackdown on dissent ordered by Castro in March 2003 led the EU to shun high-level talks with Cuban officials and invite dissidents to national day parties at its embassies in Havana.

The presence of dissidents at the cocktail parties annoyed the Cuban government and led to a freeze in ties with Europe.

The diplomatic sanctions were suspended in 2005 but ties with Havana remain cool due to continued EU calls for the release of political prisoners. Cuba has refused EU bilateral aid since 2003.

In June, the EU will review its policy on Cuba which advocates constructive engagement to encourage a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and promote respect for human rights.

Since Castro relinquished power to his brother Raul after emergency surgery in late July, the EU has tried to define a strategy to deal with new political circumstances in Cuba.

Castro, 80, has not appeared in public since his surgery.

Heal said Alarcon told her Castro's health continued to improve, but he gave no indication when, or if, he might return to public life.

"He did not say whether he will (resume power) nor did he say he wouldn't either," Heal said after their lunch.