EU proposes closer ‘partnership’ with Mexico

BRUSSELS, Belgium -The European Union’s executive commission on Tuesday proposed to upgrade ties with Mexico, recommending the North American nation be made a “strategic partner” for the 27-nation EU.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU’s external relations commissioner, said Mexico has become a key partner in Latin America.

“Our relationship with Mexico has been growing and deepening in the last decades and Mexico has become one of our important partners,” Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

She said widening ties will allow the two sides to work more closely together to tackle everything from climate change, terrorism to drug and human trafficking.

The plan, which still needs the backing of EU nations and the European Parliament, was also seen to improve European access to Mexico’s oil reserves and bolster its influence in the region dominated by the United States.

Mexico is the world’s sixth-largest oil producer.

The EU and Mexico already have a free trade pact, which came into force eight years ago.

By considering a strategic partnership with Mexico, the European Union is recognizing the growing leverage of the Latin American country in international affairs. Brussels usually reserves such a status for its most important global partners including Russia, China and the United States.

The proposal suggests holding EU-Mexico summits every two years to coordinate policies.

The 27-nation EU is Mexico’s second-biggest trading partner after the United States.

The two have already been in talks to widen a 2000 agreement to further free services, investment and agricultural trade.

Forbes | Kimberly Chow | Tuesday, March 15, 2008