Why would the EU want to make Mexico its partner?
The EU has greatly benefited from the arrangement it created with Mexico, for nearly 50% of the EU's financial contributions from Latin America are due to the our country's involvement with the organisation. This is hardly a surprise since Mexico is one of the two largest economies in Latin America; also, it is one of the few emerging countries to have an FTA with the US, the EU and Japan. Furthermore, it has agreements with most Latin American countries, with the EFTA countries, and with Israel.
Mexico also has an ideal geographical position because of its closeness to the US. This allows it to act as a bridge connecting industrialized and emerging countries. Mexico's "bridging” position is one of its main assets in the context of a progressive multilateral and multicultural international community. Now that the economic weight of our country is increasingly evident, Mexico is becoming more assertive and is aspiring to play a more active role in today's rapidly changing international environment.
On the other hand, Mexico's main issues concerning its economy are:
- Inequality and unsatisfactory distribution of wealth--a problem that goes back for centuries
- A north- south gap in growth and income--there couldn't have been a more appropriate audience for this point, we have been witnesses of this argument.
- Psychology of the population--the closeness of minds and lack of motivation are truly affecting the country's overall performance.
There are plenty of reasons why the EU would want to have Mexico as a partner. Mexico is a global player and is active in the G8 + G5 group. Its weight and influence will probably grow with time, even beyond Latin America. There should be no surprise then from hearing about the establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the European Union and Mexico.
The question is: Why wouldn't the EU want to become partners with Mexico?
Resources:
"Mexico-EU trade in services : a beneficial relationship." Trade Links 8 (2009): 2. Web. 29 Sep 2009.
"COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Towards an EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership."Europa (2008): n. pag. Web. 29 Sep 2009.
