Mexico was the first Latin American country to sign a partnership agreement with the EU (in 1997).The Agreement, called the EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement, entered into force in 2000 and has considerably strengthened bilateral relations between the EU and Mexico. It governs all relations between them, including a regular high-level political dialogue. It is based on shared values, such as democracy and human rights, and reflects Mexico’s relevance on the international scene.

The Agreement has established a Free Trade Area (FTA) between the EU and Mexico that has enshrined their bilateral trade relations in a preferential framework and has helped to enhance their bilateral economic ties. The FTA has allowed significant growth in bilateral trade and has acted as a catalyst for investment flows.

The Agreement has also created the conditions for a wide range of cooperation activities to support Mexico in areas such as social cohesion, justice and human rights, sustainable economic development, education and culture, and science and technology.

• Towards an EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership [43 KB] , COM (2008) 447 final, 15.07.2008

• 4th EU/Mexico Civil Society Forum, Mexico, 25-26 October 2010

• Joint Executive Plan for Mexico 16 May 2010

• Mid-Term Review of the Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 for Mexico [28 KB] and the National Indicative Programme for 2011-2013 for Mexico [53 KB]