On Wednesday 15 April, the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Committee on International Trade (INTA) presented their views on the modernised free trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico. The text has been widely hailed for its symbolic significance at a time when the EU is seeking to diversify its trading partners (see EUROPE 13560/1).
“Mexico is a strategic partner for the EU. After ten years of work to modernise this agreement, the European Parliament must now give its approval to a partnership with this ally”, declared Javi Lopez (S&D, Spanish), co-rapporteur of the text for the AFET Committee.
A view shared by the EPP and Renew Europe groups. “European SMEs account for around 83% of EU exports to Mexico and should therefore benefit directly,” according to João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Renew Europe, Portuguese), shadow rapporteur for the two parliamentary committees. However, he regretted “the absence of a complete chapter on energy”, which had been withdrawn because of new Mexican rules favouring local companies.
The MEPs nevertheless expressed concern about respect for human rights. According to Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, German), although the agreement includes a clause on the subject, this type of clause “has hardly ever been activated. However, there are serious human rights violations in Mexico, particularly in the mining sector, to which the agreement facilitates access”.
MEPs must table their amendments by Friday 17 April. The AFET and INTA committees are due to vote on 23 June, followed by a plenary vote in July. (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)