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  Cuba's relations with Europe chilled after Castro cracked down on the island's dissidents in March 2003, rounding up and sentencing 75 of them to long prison terms. European nations were also troubled by the firing-squad executions of three men who tried to hijack a ferry to the United States around the same time.

European Union nations responded by reducing high-level government visits, canceling participation in cultural events and by inviting dissidents to embassy gatherings.

But some countries, led by Spain's new Socialist government, argued these diplomatic maneuvers were having little effect. In mid-December, an EU commission recommended member states work out a new policy to encourage the Caribbean island to open up.

Roque said part of the effort to improve relations with Cuba included the EU nations ending the practice of inviting dissidents to national holiday celebrations at their embassies in Havana.

"Due to these pronouncements, Cuba has made the decision to re-establish formal contacts with a group of countries from the European Union," Roque told a news conference Monday. He said Cuban authorities would immediately start meeting with ambassadors from eight European countries: France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece, Portugal and Sweden.

Monday's announcement came about a month after Cuba re-established formal contact with Spain, Belgium and Hungary.

Perez Roque declined to comment on why Cuba had not resumed formal contact with the remaining 14 European Union countries.

Martha Beatriz Roque, one of 14 dissidents released from prison last year, said she was disappointed European countries were again warming up to Cuba. "We are going to continue working to achieve democracy in Cuba, despite the European Union turning its back on us and supporting the Cuban government," Roque said in a telephone interview.

After an earlier release last summer, the government freed seven dissidents late last year -- the same time the European Union commission was preparing to review diplomatic sanctions against Cuba. Sixty-one dissidents of the original group are still behind bars.

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