EC/Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement: trade in services

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mrs Caroline LUCAS (Greens/EFA, UK) which aims to support the EC-Mexico partnership agreement and which seeks to open up trade in services, investment and aspects intellectual. The Free Trade Agreement will provide EC operators with more rapid preferential treatment than Mexico has ever before granted to any of its partners. According to the EU negotiators the EU has not only succeeded in achieving parity with NAFTA, but has achieved a result that goes further than NAFTA privileges in a number of areas. Liberalisation of services will cover all sectors with the exception of audiovisual services, maritime cabotage and air transport. Furthermore, the Commissioner Poul NIELSON emphasised that the agreement will greatly benefit both parties and further deepen the relationship. Following consultation of Parliament the agreement will be approved in the Joint Council of the Agreement at the end of February. �