EC/Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement

PURPOSE : conclusion of a political, economic and trade agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and Mexico, of the other part. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 2000/658/EC concerning the conclusion of the Economic Partnership, Political Co-ordination and Co-operation Agreement between the European Community and its, Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part. CONTENT : the agreement, signed in Brussels on 8.12.1997 is concluded for an indefinite period, the object being to strengthen existing relations between the parties on the basis of reciprocity and mutual interest by institutionalising an intensified political dialogue, the progressive liberalisation of trade and the broadening of co-operation. It is made up of the main elements: - Democracy clause: respect for democratic principles and human rights constitutes an essential element of the agreement. However, Mexico, in a unilateral declaration, draws attention to the constitutional line of its foreign policy; - Regular political dialogue: institutionalisation of political dialogue at the highest level covering all matters of mutual interest; - Trade: the agreement establishes a legal framework to develop bilateral and preferential, progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods and services, taking into account the sensitive nature of certain products and in accordance with the relevant WTO rules. The arrangements and timetable for such liberalisation was drawn up in 2000 by the Joint EU-Mexico Council established by the Agreement (CNS/2000/0296). Provision is also made for arrangements to encourage the liberalisation of capital movements and payments, competition, protection of intellectual property and the opening up of public procurement; - Economic matters: regular dialogue will be instituted in order to improve economic co-operation. This covers all areas: industrial co-operation, investment promotion, financial services, SMEs, technical regulations and conformity assessment, customs co-operation, the information society, science and technology, energy, transport, communications, tourism, environment and natural resources, and co-operation on agriculture and fisheries. Other areas of co-operation: the agreement also contains provisions designed to improve co-operation on social issues and poverty, regional matters, public administration, information and culture, training and education, drugs, consumer protection, health, development of the civil society, and aid for refugees from Central America living in Mexico. A future development clause will allow the scope of co-operation to be broadened if necessary. A joint declaration confirms the parties' obligations on maritime transport services undertaken as members of the WTO and OECD; - Resources for co-operation: the parties undertake to make available the appropriate financial and other resources needed to implement the agreement (encouraging the EIB to intensify its investment in Mexico). At institutional level, the agreement establishes a Joint Council to supervise its implementation at ministerial level. The Joint Council is assisted by a Joint Committee and special committees.A joint declaration makes provision for dialogue at parliamentary level. It should also be noted that a national security clause providing that a party of the Agreement can take every measure that it judges necessary when its main interests concerning security are in danger. This clause also applies to the production and the trade of arms when there are serious threats to the internal public peace. The Agreement also consists of the most-favoured-nation-treatment, except in financial matters. ENTRY INTO FORCE : the Agreement shall enter into force on 01.10.2000. The decisions adopted, up to then, in the framework Agreement of the Intermediary EU-Mexico Agreement shall be adopted in accordance with this Agreement (in particular conclusions of the first trade matters of the Agreement - CNS/2000/0024).�