The European Union and Mexico are preparing to open “a new chapter in [their] strategic partnership” on Friday 22 May in Mexico City, during a bilateral summit taking place eleven years after the last such meeting (see EUROPE 11334/10).
In a period marked by “increasing turbulence and profound transformations”, the two partners will choose to “deepen and update” their bilateral relationship “based on shared history, values and commitment to multilateralism”, according to a draft joint statement, a copy of which Agence Europe has obtained.
It will be “a good news summit”, a European source was pleased to note on Wednesday 13 May.
Trade agreement. On Friday in Mexico City, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, will sign a new strategic partnership agreement covering political, economic and cooperation matters (‘Modernised Global Agreement’) and an Interim Trade Agreement (ITA), the negotiations for which concluded in January 2025 (see EUROPE 13560/1).
Against a backdrop of geopolitical and trade tensions, marked notably by an aggressive tariff policy on the part of the United States towards both Mexico and the European Union, the two partners intend to present a united front, according to a second European diplomat.
The commercial side of the agreement provides for eliminating the majority of customs duties on trade in goods, the removal of non-tariff barriers and greater protection for geographical indications. Mexico would thus commit to protecting an additional 336 European designations, adding to the 232 spirit categories already covered by the existing agreement.
As Mexico’s third-largest trading partner, the European Union is hoping to capitalise on the political and commercial partnership that has been in place since 2000, which has enabled a four-fold increase in trade. This modernised agreement is expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral trade, which reached a value of more than €86 billion in 2025, according to Eurostat.
Beyond consolidating their trade cooperation, the two partners are expected, according to the draft joint statement, to reaffirm their commitment to open, fair and rules-based international trade. They are also expected to underscore the need to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose appellate mechanism remains paralysed, pending the appointment of new judges by the United States.
Once signed, the texts will be put to a vote in European Parliament’s Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and International Trade (INTA) on 23 June, ahead of final approval during the subsequent plenary session from 6 to 9 July. Despite lingering reservations among MEPs about certain aspects of the agreement, it is expected to garner broad support in the chamber, as suggested by recent debates in European Parliament (see EUROPE 13849/20).
On the political front, the EU and Mexico will reaffirm their commitment to international law and a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its core.
The draft statement makes explicit reference to the difficult situation currently facing the Cuban people, given that the human rights situation in Cuba shows no signs of improvement and the Caribbean island continues to face a severe economic embargo imposed by the United States.
Sector dialogues. The EU and Mexico will take stock of their sectoral economic policy cooperation, notably through the European ‘Global Gateway’ strategy for investment in third countries. They will commit to deepening cooperation in the area of research and the fight against climate disruption and in protecting biodiversity.
Sectoral dialogues will also be launched in the health sector, notably on vaccine research and epidemic prevention, as well as in the energy sector, and in the areas of security and migration.
“We underline the importance of international police and judicial cooperation in the fight against organised crime and illicit drug trafficking in the framework of a comprehensive approach also addressing drug demand and drug related harm”, says the draft statement.
Finally, through a specific declaration, the two partners will emphasise the importance of gender equality and women’s rights as an integral part of human rights. People-to-people contacts will also be encouraged, with a focus on promoting exchanges under the Erasmus+ programme.
See the draft joint statement of the EU-Mexico Summit: https://aeur.eu/f/lxz (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes, Mathieu Bion and Solenn Paulic)