EC/Mexico agreement: interim agreement on trade, implementing economic partnership and cooperation agreement

The Committee has adopted - almost unanimously - the recommendation by Ana MIRANDA DE LAGE (PES, E) on the interim agreement between the EU and Mexico on trade and trade-related matters. The committee recommends that Parliament give its assent to the agreement. This is a provisional agreement, pending ratification of the agreement on economic partnership, political coordination and cooperation. The interim agreement contains a joint declaration in which both parties undertake to negotiate the liberalisation of trade in services, capital movements, public contracts, competition and intellectual property. The partnership agreement will contain a democracy clause and commits both parties to promote human rights and democratic values and support the rule of law. The committee believes that cooperation on human rights and democracy, which are designed to strengthen civil society and the rule of law, should begin as soon as the interim agreement is concluded.�