Messaggio di benvenuto del Presidente

Joint Statement by MEP Massimiliano Smeriglio and Senator Gabriela López Gómez, Co-Chairs of the Mexico-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

The forthcoming European elections and the Mexican federal elections will put an end to the mandate of the current EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee. The EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) met annually during this legislature, despite the obvious difficulties posed by, among other things, the COVID-19 outbreak.

The work of the CPM was indeed fruitful, as evidenced by the final declarations adopted during the interparliamentary meetings. The parliamentary partnership between the European Parliament and the Mexican Congress is today a strong and dynamic reality, one of the strongest and most cohesive that both parliaments can boast of. The work carried out during this legislature has made it possible to further strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding.

Through the instrument of "presentations" and thanks to the active and generous commitment of its members, the JPC addressed issues of great political, economic and social importance. Among the topics that have been regularly discussed during this legislature we can mention bilateral political and economic relations between the European Union and Mexico, scientific and cultural cooperation, important international issues such as the war in Ukraine; the environmental issue and the climate crisis; the state of human and social rights and gender policies, including equal opportunities and combating violence against women and girls.

The JPC also addressed sectoral issues such as the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking; migration policies in the territories of the European Union and Mexico; and joint cooperation programmes such as the so-called 'Global Gateway'. The bilateral meetings also strengthened mutual understanding of the functioning of the two institutions by allowing for a fruitful exchange and comparison between the working methods and practices of the two parliaments.

Particular mention should be made of the work carried out in favour of the modernisation of the Mexico-European Union Global Agreement. Regretting that, despite all the efforts made by both parties, it has not been possible to sign this historic agreement, it will be essential that the next Mexican executive and the future European Commission commit themselves to overcoming, with goodwill and a spirit of cooperation, the remaining obstacles that have so far prevented the successful conclusion of the negotiations.

In a rapidly deteriorating international context, with a significant increase in geopolitical conflicts and tensions, both the European Union and Mexico must strengthen ties with Page 2 of 2 those countries that share with them the principles of democracy, the rule of law and inalienable respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens.

The future Joint Parliamentary Committee should remain committed to an even stronger and more cohesive partnership between the European Union and Mexico, with a strong parliamentary dimension, by further intensifying bilateral meetings and exchanges.

The signatories warmly thank all those who have made possible the smooth functioning of the Joint Parliamentary Committee and, in particular, the ambassador of Mexico to the European Union and the ambassador of the European Union in Mexico and their respective staff.

Done at Brussels and Mexico City on the 20th day of the month of March 2024.

The 30th meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee took place in Mexico City from 27-29 November 2023.

It covered the following topics:

1) EU-Mexico political relations

2) Human rights, social rights and immigration issues

3) Modernization of the EU-Mexico comprehensive agreement

4) Economic and scientific relations with Mexico, including the Global Economic Gateway

The EP delegation also held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra.

H.E. Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mexico, met several Members of the EP's Delegation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee EU-Mexico and to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly on 19 July, on the occasion of her visit to Brussels in the framework of the EU-CELAC Summit on 17-18 July.

The Bureau of the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-MX) is currently constituted of the following members:

Chair: Massimiliano SMERIGLIO (S&D, Italy)

1st Vice Chair: Clara Eugenia AGUILERA GARCÍA (S&D, Spain)

2nd Vice-Chair: Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, Sweden)