The European Union negotiated an Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement with Mexico which was signed in 1997 and entered into force in 2000. This agreement (referred as the “Global Agreement”) provided a framework for both deepening and strengthening EU-Mexico political relations. The Global Agreement is made of three “parts”:
- Political dialogue (major focus: civil society)
- Free trade in goods and services
- Cooperation programs in various sectors, mostly inherited from the previous framework agreement signed in 1991
The Global Agreement also permitted the EU to reinforce its economic and commercial positions in Mexico, which had been under pressure since the entry into NAFTA in 1994.
Since the entry into the Global Agreement, the EU and Mexico have developed an active and honest political dialogue on concerns of mutual interest.
Mexico and the EU are implementing important and innovative development cooperation activities.
Policy dialogues have been launched in areas such as human rights, development, trade facilitation, environment and climate change (Mexico and the EU have adopted very close positions). Other areas of policy dialogue which will be launched by the end of this year are on Since the entry into force of the 2004 EU/Mexico sectoral agreement on Science and Technology, scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Mexico has increased considerably.
From Mexico’s point of view, the relationship with the EU is a vital factor for political diversification and balance in its international relations.
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/mexico/docs/com08_447_en.pdf
