Brussels, 11/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 June, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth Ján Figel', with Mexican Ambassadress to the EU H.E. Sandra Fuentes-Berain in attendance, signed two joint declarations extending the cooperation between the European Commission and the Mexican government in the key areas of education and culture. “It is a very positive signal for EU-Mexico relations that we can build on our very recent strategic partnership through reinforced dialogue,” Figel' said. Fuentes-Berain said that “the signature of these declarations … will allow Mexico and the EU to promote the dialogue on cultural diversity, cultural industries and creativity, as well as the exchange of information, knowledge and best practices on efficiency and equity of educational systems, modernization of higher education and quality of education and training, among others”. External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the signing of these two agreements. Noting that the 6th Joint EU-Mexico Council, held in Prague in May, had confirmed education and culture as two priority areas for cooperation, she welcomed these joint declarations which “prove that the EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership can deliver concrete results that make a difference in citizens' lives”. To date, 304 Mexican students and scholars have taken part in the Erasmus Mundus programme for study and research in Europe. Over 450 Mexican students applied to take part in the programme for the 2009-2010 academic year. The success rate of Mexican students applying to the programme this year is 17%, which is well above the world average of 7%. In the area of culture, a first pilot phase (2008-10) of a bilateral cultural cooperation instrument, the Cultural Fund EU-Mexico, with a budget of €1,000,000, began in December 2007. This pilot phase opens new prospects for beneficial cultural exchanges for organisations based in the European Union, as well as for Mexican cultural organisations. A second phase of this programme (2009-2013) is expected to be signed in 2009, with a total budget of €6,800,000, to which the EU and the Government of Mexico will contribute equally. (I.L./transl.rt)