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THE
NEGOTIATION AND LEGAL INSTRUMENTS |
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Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the
European Union
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Chronology
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The Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the EU, which
entered into force on July 1st 2000, is a key section of one of the
most ambitious foreign policy instrument ever put in place in Mexico: the Economic
Partnership, Political Co-ordination and Cooperation Agreement between Mexico
and the European Union, known as the Global Agreement. The promotion of the political
dialogue, the reinforcement of bilateral cooperation, and the liberalization
of trade and services –the three sections of the Global
Agreement-, will bring an unprecedented dynamic to the Mexico-EU relationship.
In political-related matters, the agreement institutionalizes
the high-level political dialogue, providing Mexico with a privileged forum to
intensify cooperation, promote shared objectives through joint initiatives on a
worldwide scale, in matters such as peace, security and regional
development.
In the cooperation section, the Global Agreement encourages
initiatives in twenty-nine sectors, including, training and education; social
matters; refugees; human rights; democracy; society of information; battle
against drugs; and poverty.
In trade-related matters, the Global Agreement has laid the
basis for the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the EU.
This accord is the most ambitious trade agreement ever negotiated by the Union.
It provides for a complete elimination of tariffs on industrial products, at
latest, by 1 January 2007; seeks to take full advantage of complementary export
interests in the agricultural sector; and establishes a legal framework for the
liberalization of the services market, the promotion of direct investment flows,
the protection of intellectual property rights, the opening of government
purchases, and the settlement of trade disputes.
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Chronology of the
Mexico - European Union Free Trade Agreement |
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8 December 1997 |
Mexico and the EU sign the tree instruments serving as
legal basis for the new bilateral relation: a Global
Agreement, an Interim
Agreement and a Final
Act. |
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23 April 1998 |
The Mexican Senate unanimously approves the Interim
Agreement. |
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13 May 1998 |
The European Parliament
approves the Interim Agreement. |
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1 July 1998 |
The Interim Agreement enters into force. |
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14 July 1998 |
Creation of the Joint Committee of the Interim
Agreement.
Start of free trade agreement negotiations. |
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From November 1998
to November 1999 nine technical rounds of negotiation were alternatively
held in Mexico City and in Brussels. |
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6 May 1999 |
The European Parliament approves the Global
Agreement. |
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24 November 1999 |
After nine technical rounds, the negotiation of the free
trade agreement concludes. Press
release |
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16 March 2000 |
The European Parliament gives a favorable opinion on the
results of the free trade negotiation. |
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20 March 2000 |
The Senate approves the Global Agreement and the results
of the free trade negotiation
The European Committee approves the
results of the goods negotiation. |
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23 March 2000 |
Sitting of the Joint Committee of the Interim Agreement
and adoption of the goods negotiation results.
Signature of the Lisbon
declaration on the new association between Mexico and the European
Union. |
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1 July 2000 |
Entry into force of the agreement (goods). Text of
the Mexico - EU FTA |
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27 February 2001 |
Sitting of the Joint Committee of the Global agreement
and adoption of the trade in services, movements of capital and related
payments, and intellectual property subjects. Joint
press relase |
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1 March 2001 |
Trade in services,
movements of capital and payments, intellectual property, and government
procurement enter into force.
The political and cooperation aspects of the Global
Agreement enter also into force.
From this day on,
all the legal instruments of the agreement are in force. |
| 2 October 2001 |
First meeting of the Mexico - EU
Joint Committee. Joint
press release |
| 13 May 2002 |
Second meeting of the Mexico - EU
Joint Council. Joint
press release |
| 18 May 2002 |
First Mexico - EU Summit. Press
release |
| 3 October 2002 |
Second meeting of the Mexico - EU
Joint Committee. Joint
press release |
| 26 November 2002 |
First EU-Mexico Civil Society
Forum . Joint
press release |
| 27 March 2003 |
Third meeting of the Mexico - EU
Joint Council. Joint
press release |
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