Brussels, 10/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the basis of the report by the Spanish MEP Concepcio Ferrer the European Parliament should approve on Thursday 16 March in plenary the results of the negotiations of a free trade area between the EU and Mexico, concluded last November 24.
After the General Affairs Council political agreement of last 14 February (see EUROPE of 16 February, p.7) the green light was given by the MEPs enabling the European and Mexican Ministers to formally approve the results of the negotiations during the joint EU/Mexico Council meeting that will take place on the sidelines of the special Summit in Lisbon on the 24 March. The aims is to start next 1st July the progressive liberalisation of trade, that will create a complete free trade area in the industrial sector by 2007 and for 62% of agricultural trade in 2010.
Technically this is not a new agreement between the EU and Mexico having signed in December 1997 a framework agreement in which should be inserted the result of the trade negotiations. The European Parliament has already ratified this framework agreement in May 1999. However it was invited to approve the results of the trade negotiations for the chapters relating to Community prerogatives. The procedure having been accelerated on request of the from the Council and Commission, the EP's external trade committee must pronounce itself on the Ferrer report, on Monday 13 March, during an extraordinary meeting.
Concepcio Ferrer invited the parliament to approve the European Commission's proposal, in congratulating, in his report on the motives, the significant benefits that the increase in trade should bring to the two parties. Nevertheless the Spanish MEPs also insists on the social issues and the respect of human rights. "The framework agreement is based on a democratic and human rights clause that can suspend it. The agreement may be renounced in a case of the violation of these principles," reminded Mrs. Ferrer to EUROPE. While underlining that Mexico has progressed in terms of human rights and democracy since the signature of the framework agreement, the report insists on the need to follow the reform process. This is to guarantee the full respect of fundamental rights and freedoms as well as the research into fair solutions that accompany the economic opening of Mexico.
For the Parliamentarian, it is important that a follow up to the agreement be insured to guarantee that the population benefit effectively for the freeing of trade. In the report she notes to this effect that among the products interesting for the development of the Chiapas (such as coffee, bananas and exotic flowers) the agreement foresees the opening for all the varieties of coffee including organic coffees that are starting to be fashionable in Europe and the indigenous peoples are starting to produce." On the other hand she regrets that the bananas have not been included in the agreement, due to the open panel at the WTO over the European banana import regime. She also notes that exotic flowers will also be partially freed within the tariff contingents.
Concepcio Ferrer noted that the complexities of the original rules specifically defined for the automotive and textile sectors risk to lead to fraud. She hopes that the joint customs co-operation committee will be able to fight fraud in this sector and insists for this specific regime not to creat a precedent for other trade negotiations.