Sittings · Document

INTERIM REPORT (2025/0810R(NLE)) 2026-06-25

In view of the consent procedure on the Political, Economic and Cooperation Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mexico

Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on International Trade · Rapporteur: Javi López, Borja Giménez Larraz

PR_Consent_Interim

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

in view of the consent procedure on the Political, Economic and Cooperation Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mexico

(2025/0810R(NLE))

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 3 September 2025 for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Political, Economic and Cooperation Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part (COM(2025)0810), also known as the Modernised Global Agreement,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 3 September 2025 for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States (COM(2025)0812),

– having regard to the joint declaration on trade and gender equality by the European Union and Mexico integrated in the framework of the Modernised Global Agreement,

– having regard to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 October 2000 and will be replaced by the Modernised Global Agreement,

– having regard to the negotiating directives for the negotiations on a modernised agreement with Mexico adopted by the Council on 4 May 2016,

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 7 June 2023 entitled ‘A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean’ (JOIN(2023)0017),

– having regard to its resolution of 13 September 2017 on EU political relations with Latin America,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 June 2022 on the future of EU international investment policy and to the recommendations contained therein,

– having regard to the Commission staff working document of 16 December 2015 entitled ‘Impact Assessment accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to open negotiations and negotiate with Mexico a modernised Global Agreement’ (SWD(2015)0289),

– having regard to the Commission assessment of 17 September 2019 entitled ‘Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in support of the negotiations for the modernisation of the trade part of the Global Agreement with Mexico’,

– having regard to the joint declaration of 9 November 2025 of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)-EU Summit 2025, held in Santa Marta, Colombia,

– having regard to the conclusions of the visits to Mexico of the ad hoc delegations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 31 October 2023, and of the Committee on International Trade on 22-24 February 2022,

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Title V thereof on the Union’s external action,

– having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 91, 100(2), 207(4), first subparagraph, and 209(2), in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), and Article 218(7),

– having regard to Rule 107(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the interim report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade (A10-0182/2026),

A. whereas Mexico and the EU are like-minded democracies and long-standing strategic partners, promoting shared values such as respect for human dignity, freedom, human rights and multilateralism; whereas the EU and Mexico share important historical, political, economic, cultural and religious ties, as well as deep human and social bonds;

B. whereas the current agreement between Mexico and the EU dates back to 2000 and has produced significant results since then;

C. whereas the agreement between Mexico and the EU was, at the time, a historic milestone, as it was the EU’s first trade agreement with a Latin American country, while for Mexico it was its first trade agreement with a party outside the Americas; whereas it established a framework for political cooperation that Mexico has not replicated with any other partner to date;

D. whereas the modernised Global Agreement (‘the Agreement’) upgrades the comprehensive legal framework fostering political dialogue, democratic governance, trade and mutually beneficial sectoral cooperation upon which the EU-Mexico strategic partnership is built;

E. whereas both the EU and Mexico face renewed global and regional challenges requiring enhanced collaboration in areas such as the defence of the rules-based multilateral order, the promotion of human rights and democracy, climate change, sustainable development, gender equality, transnational and organised crime, drug trafficking and the fight against drug cartels, cybersecurity, the human rights-based governance of artificial intelligence, human mobility, corruption and respect for the rule of law;

F. whereas the EU’s 2022 revised approach to trade and sustainable development (TSD) aims to extend state-to-state dispute settlement to the provisions of the TSD chapter of EU trade agreements, such as those related to ILO core conventions and the Paris Agreement;

G. whereas the Agreement aims to strengthen the parties’ ability to implement the UN 2030 Agenda and promote climate action, emphasising each party’s own responsibility in that regard;

H. whereas Mexico has emerged as a key regional actor and mediator in Latin America, including through active diplomacy; whereas Mexico’s economy is the second largest in Latin America; whereas the EU and Mexico have strong commitments to a stable and predictable international arena; whereas it is in the interest of both the EU and Mexico to enhance their relationship in the face of the increasingly disruptive geopolitical context;

I. whereas the current geopolitical context stresses the need for like-minded partners, such as the EU and Mexico, to strengthen their mutual ties in order to face global challenges and defend a rules-based multilateral order;

J. whereas Mexico’s commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth, as reflected in national policy frameworks, aligns with EU objectives with regard to promoting social reforms, gender equality and environmental protection;

K. whereas respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights constitutes an essential element of the Agreement, thereby underscoring the bi-directional commitment of the parties to democratic governance and the rule of law;

L. whereas the good functioning of the Agreement is linked to continued progress in the areas of the rule of law, judicial independence and the separation of powers; whereas regular monitoring and dialogue on these matters will be essential to ensure mutual trust and the proper functioning of the Agreement;

M. whereas according to the World Bank, Mexico’s poverty rate fell from 43.2 % in 2016 to 36.3 % in 2022, and the monetary poverty rate based on income declined from 50.8 % to 43.5 %; whereas, in the same period, the extreme monetary poverty rate dropped from 14.9 % to 12.1 %, and contribution pensions grew by 4.7 % annually on average for the poorest deciles; whereas, as of 2024, 29.6 % of Mexico’s population – around 38.5 million people – remained in multidimensional poverty;

N. whereas marriage equality is now universally recognised across all 32 Mexican states, and 23 states also allow same-sex couples to adopt children;

O. whereas Mexico is the EU’s 11th-largest trading partner and the second-largest trading partner in Latin America, with the total volume of trade in goods reaching more than EUR 82 billion in 2024; whereas the EU is Mexico’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest source of foreign direct investment;

P. whereas the EU and Mexico share a commitment to promoting an open, sustainable, rules- and values-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core;

Q. whereas a dedicated and comprehensive energy chapter in line with the sector’s strategic importance for competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply should have been added; whereas EU companies active in Mexico’s energy and renewables sector require legal certainty that leads to a fair, open, stable, predictable and competitive market environment that is free of discriminatory practices and regulatory distortions;

R. whereas respect for fundamental rights and democratic principles, including the overall integrity of the rule of law, separation of powers and judicial independence, constitutes an essential element of the Agreement;

S. whereas despite the efforts of the authorities, such as the reform of the Law of Public Security that provides more resources and capacities to fight criminal gangs, Mexico faces long-standing and serious security and organised-crime challenges, with 94.8 % of known crimes remaining unresolved, further eroding institutional trust and undermining the rule of law, human rights and citizens’ confidence in the criminal justice system, as well as causing internal forced displacement and migration; whereas organised crime and drug trafficking constitute a very serious scourge in Mexico; whereas high levels of violence, including around 90 murders per day and systematic attacks against journalists and women, including femicides, continue to undermine the rule of law and to cause internal forced displacement and migration; whereas these trends highlight the urgent need to reinforce accountability mechanisms and significantly deepen cooperation under the Agreement;

T. whereas the high number of disappeared and missing persons in Mexico, currently exceeding 125 000 according to official and independent registries, constitutes a matter of urgent concern; whereas the challenging security situation creates obstacles for trade and investment, raises risks and costs for businesses, increases legal uncertainty and weakens investor confidence; whereas Parliament has expressed deep concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation in Mexico, including the murder of journalists and human rights defenders, widespread impunity, the excessive use of force and corruption;

U. whereas in 2025, civil society organisations documented 4 783 incidents of extreme violence, with a daily average of 18 victims, including torture-murders, massacres, and discoveries of over 300 mass burial sites;

V. whereas recent constitutional and institutional reforms in Mexico, including the popular election of judges and other judicial officials, have prompted debate regarding their potential implications for judicial independence, the separation of powers, the rule of law and the predictability and stability of the legal environment, including in relation to the low turnout of the June 2025 judicial elections and alleged links between some elected candidates and organised crime;

W. whereas reforms affecting the autonomy of the National Electoral Institute (INE) should not undermine a central pillar of the country’s democratic transition; whereas any electoral reform must preserve and strengthen the quality, integrity and credibility of electoral processes in line with international standards;

X. whereas Mexico scored 27 out of 100 on Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 141st out of 182 countries and last among all member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; whereas corruption remains a significant challenge;

Y. whereas Mexico’s September 2024 constitutional reform changed judicial appointments with the popular election of judges at all levels; whereas the June 2025 judicial elections recorded a turnout of around 13 %;

Z. whereas reforms of the judicial system should ensure the preservation of judicial independence, the separation of powers and the integrity of the rule of law; whereas such reforms should not undermine institutional stability and legal certainty, which are essential for democratic governance and investment; whereas the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has repeatedly called on Mexico to align military jurisdiction over crimes against civilians with international standards;

AA. whereas a series of constitutional and legislative reforms since 2021, including the January 2025 Electricity Sector Law, have reversed the 2013 liberalisation of the energy sector; whereas Mexico abolished independent regulatory bodies in the energy, telecommunications and competition sectors in 2024 and 2025;

AB. whereas gender-based violence in Mexico constitutes a grave and ongoing human rights crisis, with approximately 10 women and girls killed every day; whereas only around 24 % of female homicides are officially classified as femicides, with classification rates varying from 4.2 % to 100 % across states, pointing to systematic underreporting; whereas Mexico has around 130 000 registered missing persons, 25 % of whom are women; whereas sexual assault and family violence rates have more than doubled since 2015;

AC. whereas Mexico ranked 124th out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders 2025 World Press Freedom Index; whereas at least nine journalists were killed in 2025, making it the deadliest year in at least three years; whereas impunity for crimes against journalists remains very concerning, particularly for those reporting on organised crime, corruption and local politics, while federal protection for journalists should be strengthened;

AD. whereas Mexico has suffered a long-standing problem of political violence; whereas the 2024 electoral cycle – the largest in Mexican history – was also the deadliest on record, with at least 37 candidates assassinated and more than 330 incidents of political violence recorded in the preceding months; whereas in the first quarter of 2025 alone, 104 incidents of violence against politicians were recorded, representing a 59 % increase compared to the same period the previous year;

AE. whereas the February 2026 operation that killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) triggered retaliatory violence across 20 states;

Bi-regional and strategic significance

1. Stresses the geopolitical significance of a strong EU-Mexico strategic partnership that promotes human rights, social and political rights and environmental standards in the context of the current challenging international environment marked by increasing fragmentation of the global order and threats to multilateralism, human rights, democracy and the rules-based international system;

2. Recognises Mexico’s strategic importance as a key EU partner and member of the G20, and its constructive and influential role in promoting a rules-based international order, effective multilateralism, and global governance rooted in international law; welcomes, in particular, the fact that Mexico has voted in favour of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine;

3. Emphasises that Mexico’s active participation in global and regional fora, including the UN, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the G20, makes it a crucial EU ally in pushing forward shared priorities such as sustainable development, peace and security, climate action, the defence of democracy, the promotion of gender equality, and the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide; commends the position Mexico has taken at the Organization of American States (OAS) in defence of international law and against unilateral measures that undermine peace globally and in the region, as well as its full respect for the Charter of the OAS;

4. Underlines that Mexico has been a strategic partner of the EU since 2008 and an important EU ally in the region; recalls that relations between the two sides are based on deep historical, political, economic, cultural, religious and human ties, as well as on common values;

5. Highlights the fact that the modernised Agreement will further consolidate this long-standing partnership, strengthening political dialogue and cooperation on global challenges while promoting stability, prosperity and mutual understanding between the two regions;

6. Underlines, therefore, the critical importance of the Agreement as a tool for strengthening multilateral frameworks, particularly through strengthened cooperation in and with international and regional organisations; highlights Mexico’s collaboration with several UN bodies, including its acceptance of numerous visits by UN special rapporteurs, treaty bodies and high-level officials;

7. Welcomes enhanced political dialogue on democratic governance, peace and security, and the promotion of the principles of international law and cooperation, which serve as a vital counterweight to the erosion of multilateral institutions;

8. Highlights the strategic value of institutionalised dialogue mechanisms, including regular EU-Mexico summits, the High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights and the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), as essential tools for maintaining mutual ties, democratic solidarity and coordinated responses to global challenges; underscores the importance of these mechanisms to find solutions to those challenges;

9. Welcomes the inclusion of the Agreement in the joint communication ‘A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean’ of 7 June 2023 and underlines Mexico’s key role as a democratic anchor in the region and a key partner in defending multilateral institutions;

10. Stresses the importance of strengthening EU-Mexico cooperation in addressing hybrid threats, in particular disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference targeting democratic institutions, electoral processes and public debate;

Thematic cooperation and governance

11. Welcomes provisions for comprehensive cooperation in the following areas – security and justice (including anti-corruption, money laundering and organised crime), human mobility and migration management, environmental protection, biodiversity loss, climate action, energy transition and ocean governance, and education, culture, research, innovation and the digital economy; emphasises the importance of protecting cultural heritage;

12. Expresses concern at the increase in organised crime and drug trafficking both in the EU and in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), including Mexico; recognises the importance of meetings of the EU-Latin American Committee on Internal Security and EU-LAC cooperation programmes such as EL PACCTO 2.0 on justice and security, and COPOLAD on drugs policies, among others, and calls for these to be strengthened; welcomes Mexico’s endorsement of the EU-LAC Alliance for Citizen Security, adopted following the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit held in November in Santa Marta; trusts that the EU-Mexico Agreement will contribute to the fight against organised crime, in particular drug trafficking, and underlines the need to step up efforts to combat organised crime, in particular drug trafficking;

13. Highlights the importance of strengthening judicial cooperation, including by drawing on the know-how and best practice developed by many Member States in combating organised crime, recognising that drug trafficking is not only a criminal issue but also a major source of global political and social destabilisation, with a high capacity for technological adaptation;

14. Commends dedicated mechanisms for public health cooperation, digital transformation and modernisation;

15. Encourages deeper EU-Mexico cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, including efforts to strengthen cyber resilience, protect critical digital infrastructure and exchange best practice on countering cyber threats and promoting secure and trusted digital networks;

16. Acknowledges Mexico’s commitment to sustainable growth strategies and national development plans that prioritise environmental protection, social inclusion and economic diversification, which align with the EU’s objectives under the Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda; welcomes the role of the Agreement in promoting the sustainable management of fisheries and forests and combating illegal fishing and logging activities;

17. Highlights that the Agreement emphasises sustainability by means of a strengthened commitment to sustainable development, labour rights, environmental protection and combating climate change;

Democracy, rights and societal engagement

18. Highlights the parties’ mutual commitment to democratic governance, the rule of law, judicial independence, human rights and gender equality, and supports the inclusion of ambitious and enforceable democracy and rights clauses as essential elements of the Agreement;

19. Encourages both parties to continue working together to promote democratic standards, institutional transparency and the protection of fundamental rights, and in particular the universal application of and respect for human rights;

20. Urges the establishment of a Civil Society Forum; calls for the active and meaningful involvement and consultation of diverse civil society stakeholders, including representatives from indigenous groups and rural communities, in the monitoring and implementation of the Agreement through the extended consultation mechanism covering all of the Agreement’s provisions, including human rights provisions;

21. Recognises and encourages to step up Mexico’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and to fight against gender-based violence, particularly through foreign and domestic policies based on social inclusion and gender equality principles, which complement the Agreement’s objectives with regard to sustainable and inclusive development;

22. Expresses deep concern at the high rates of femicide and gender-based violence; underlines that women’s rights are an essential element of the Agreement under the scope of human rights, and that the alarming rates of femicide are deplorable; calls on both parties to include, within the cooperation framework of the Agreement, specific programmes to support the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, the protection of women human rights defenders, and the strengthening of the institutional capacity to properly classify, investigate and prosecute such crimes;

23. Welcomes Mexico’s renewed commitment to institutional strengthening and democratic governance; highlights the importance of continuing to strengthen and consolidate state institutions, the rule of law, institutional transparency, accountability and oversight mechanisms, the principles of democratic governance, in particular judicial independence, and of an effective separation of powers, integrity of the electoral system, the protection of journalists, and combating enforced disappearances;

24. Is closely monitoring Mexico’s ongoing institutional reforms, in particular its judicial reform, which has sparked debate and concerns; encourages Mexico to continue to uphold judicial independence as an essential element of the Agreement, the separation of powers and the integrity of the electoral process;

25. Notes that monitoring includes changes in the framework governing the INE; underlines the importance of maintaining a pluralistic democratic environment, including through a balanced system of political representation and adequate public financing for political parties; recalls that free and fair elections administered by an independent electoral body are essential in any democracy; stresses that democratic resilience requires robust, independent and adequately funded regulators, transparency bodies and constitutional counterweights; calls on the Parties to monitor these developments closely;

26. Salutes Mexico’s efforts to strengthen the labour market, workers’ purchasing power through the increase of the minimum wage, and labour conditions in line with international standards and the principles of the Agreement; welcomes Mexico’s recent investment plans for modernising infrastructure, upgrading transportation networks and building affordable housing, which will provide significant areas of cooperation and opportunities between both regions; notes with satisfaction Mexico’s attempts to strengthen its welfare state and to guarantee public access to essential resources, particularly water and internet, which fully align with the UN 2030 Agenda;

27. Is concerned, at the same time, about the high level of violence in Mexico and over the high rates of impunity; calls on the Mexican authorities to step up their efforts to fight against it; supports Mexico’s ongoing efforts to combat them, including legal reforms to strengthen public order institutions, to combat criminal gangs and to improve the prosecution of the crime of extortion, and encourages further cooperation under the principles of the Agreement in the area of security and public order; calls for cooperation under the Agreement to include concrete and measurable benchmarks for security-sector reform and the dismantling of criminal networks;

28. Deplores the persistent political violence in Mexico, in particular the targeting and killing of local politicians, candidates and municipal officials by organised criminal groups; calls on Mexico to strengthen protection for candidates and officials at all levels, especially at municipal level, and calls for both parties to include clear benchmarks in the Agreement for reducing political violence and dismantling the criminal networks behind it; highlights that political pluralism free from coercion and violence is the corner-stone of a functioning democracy;

29. Expresses deep concern at the continuing crisis of enforced disappearances in Mexico and at recent controversies surrounding the review of the national registry of disappeared persons; urges the Mexican authorities to guarantee the integrity, transparency and public verifiability of the registry, to ensure the full participation of victims’ families and independent experts, and to prioritise search, identification and prosecution efforts over statistical reclassification; recalls that truth, justice and reparations for victims are indispensable components of the rule of law;

30. Highlights that the Agreement will be implemented in complex social environments surrounded by vulnerable communities and stresses that the role of journalists, human rights defenders and whistleblowers, among others, is crucial and needs to be promoted and protected; urges the Mexican authorities to ensure their safety and protection; calls on Mexico to ensure that all alleged human rights violations by military personnel against civilians are investigated by genuinely independent civilian authorities, in full compliance with the repeated rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights;

31. Reminds the Mexican authorities of the commitments expressed on several occasions in the framework of the High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights; calls on the Mexican authorities, in this respect, to ensure access to justice, reparation and adequate assistance for victims, and prompt and independent investigations into all attacks in order to bring perpetrators to justice; strongly condemns the violence against journalists and calls on Mexico to ensure swift, independent and transparent investigations into all killings of and attacks on journalists, and to prosecute those responsible, including those who commission such crimes; recalls that freedom of the press is a precondition for democratic accountability and the rule of law, and calls for press freedom to be explicitly included among the benchmarks monitored under the Agreement’s human rights and governance provisions;

32. Calls on both parties to use all the necessary elements of the Agreement to strengthen safeguards against criminal capture of public contracting, ensure transparent anti-corruption enforcement and hold all public officials accountable;

Trade and investment

33. Considers the Agreement to be an important signal in support of open, fair and rules- and values-based trade at a time of increasing economic fragmentation, instability and protectionism; stresses the importance of the Agreement in reducing strategic dependencies; believes that the Agreement will be mutually beneficial and contribute to enhancing long-term economic development, job creation, diversification and sustainability; underlines that open trade fosters competitiveness, expands opportunities for businesses and consumers, and contributes to growth and technological progress in both partner economies; stresses that under the most ambitious scenario, total EU exports of goods and services could increase by 75 %, while EU companies could save up to EUR 100 million per year in customs duties; encourages assessing the socio-economic impact of the Agreement throughout its implementation;

34. Notes that under the Agreement almost all remaining tariffs will be removed; highlights, in particular, the significant economic opportunities for EU farmers and agri-food exporters resulting from the removal of the very high Mexican tariffs on products such as cheese and pork, which currently reach up to 45 %, and poultry, which currently reach up to 100 %; welcomes the opportunities this presents for European food producers; notes that the EU maintains an agri-food trade surplus with Mexico; stresses the importance of closely monitoring, during its implementation, the impact of the Agreement on sensitive sectors of the EU, such as those relevant to coastal and fishing communities and their dependent processing industries, including, but not limited to, those making products such as canned tuna;

35. Welcomes the fact that under the new Agreement, 568 geographical indications for traditional agri-food products will be protected in Mexico, making it illegal to sell imitations of distinctive food and drink products from specific regions in the EU, such as Rioja, Champagne, Parma, Porto and Feta; stresses that this protection should be accompanied by effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent counterfeiting, imitation and any misleading use of protected names on the market;

36. Stresses that all imports from Mexico must fully comply with EU requirements with regard to food safety, animal and plant health, consumer safety, environmental protection, technical product standards, and regulations on genetically modified organisms;

37. Welcomes the fact that the new market access commitments with regard to trade in services will open up new business opportunities for EU and Mexican companies in strategic sectors, such as telecommunications and transport; welcomes the provisions ensuring non-discriminatory treatment and equal opportunities for EU and Mexican service providers in both markets; notes that the Agreement contains a state-of-the-art chapter on digital trade that will facilitate electronic commerce, provide legal certainty by removing barriers to online trade, allow firms to operate with greater efficiency, protect consumers in the growing digital economy and uphold the right to regulate; calls on the Commission to ensure that digital trade provisions remain consistent with the EU’s digital regulatory framework, including transparency and consumer protection objectives;

38. Recognises Mexico’s growing importance as both an expanding market and a strategic partner in the supply of critical raw materials, offering the EU opportunities to enhance its resilience and deepen transatlantic ties; notes Mexico’s vital role as a producer of critical raw materials, particularly as the source of 33 % of the EU’s fluorspar imports, which is critical for the steel, iron and refrigeration supply chains; supports the Agreement’s aim of ensuring a more secure and diversified supply of critical raw materials essential for the EU’s green and digital transition through improved market access and provisions on non-discrimination, such as the prohibition of import and export monopolies and a ban on dual pricing; calls for EU and Mexican authorities to ensure that the Agreement effectively promotes compliance with the highest sustainability standards in the extraction and processing of raw materials, and that all mining projects enabled by the Agreement meaningfully involve and contribute to delivering tangible benefits to local and indigenous communities; calls for the EU to actively support Mexico in its efforts to move up the value chain, as well as in enhancing social, environmental and human rights standards in the mining sector;

39. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to make full use of the Agreement, in synergy with the Global Gateway investment agenda, to promote resilient, sustainable and diversified EU-Mexico value chains in strategic sectors, including critical raw materials, renewable energy, clean technologies, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, sustainable mobility and environmental protection, with a view to strengthening economic security, reducing excessive dependencies and fostering local added value on both sides;

40. Regrets the absence of a dedicated and comprehensive chapter on energy in the Agreement, given the sector’s strategic importance for competitiveness and energy security; acknowledges that this could constitute a source of legal uncertainty, affecting investment decisions; considers that enhanced regulatory cooperation between the EU and Mexico in the energy sector would contribute to creating a more predictable environment for investment; recognises the significant involvement of EU companies in Mexico’s energy sector, particularly in the field of renewable energies; stresses the need to ensure a fair, stable, non-discriminatory and predictable investment environment for these companies that supports energy cooperation and a phase-out of the use of fossil fuels in both regions; welcomes the fact that the parties have committed to reviewing the energy provisions within three years of the Agreement’s entry into force; calls on the Commission to ensure that the review of the energy-related provisions leads to strengthened commitments on legal certainty, transparency and non-discrimination for investors, in particular in renewable energy, electricity networks, energy efficiency, storage and clean technologies; calls on the Commission to report to Parliament on the outcome of this review;

41. Stresses the significance of the parties’ commitment to maintaining public procurement procedures that are transparent, predictable and consistent with international best practice, as a crucial step towards ensuring legal certainty and fair competition; highlights the fact that the Agreement extends unprecedented market access for European bidders to the procurement markets of 14 Mexican states and to a broader range of public contracts on the Mexican market, including those related to public-private partnerships; notes that the Agreement will entail a significant expansion of procurement opportunities for European companies; encourages further promotion of access for European companies to public procurement markets in all Mexican states; welcomes the fact that the Agreement allows procuring entities to take into account environmental and social considerations throughout the procurement procedure;

42. Commends the inclusion of a chapter on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which will boost SMEs’ international competitiveness and facilitate their trading activities by providing information on the relevant rules and regulations and on the preferences under the Agreement via a dedicated website; highlights the fact that SMEs will fully benefit from reduced bureaucracy, simplified rules, open markets, the removal of many non-tariff barriers and from simplified rules of origin requirements; calls on the Commission to ensure the effective implementation and outreach of these SME provisions; emphasises that of around 45 000 EU companies currently exporting to Mexico, approximately 83 % are SMEs, which will benefit most from simplified rules of origin, increased harmonisation of standards and regulatory cooperation between the EU and Mexico;

43. Welcomes the provisions on reducing non-tariff barriers and enhancing regulatory cooperation; emphasises that unnecessary regulatory obstacles should be systematically removed to ensure full market access, fair competition and economic efficiency;

44. Welcomes the enhanced protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, which will offer EU innovators, creative industries and artists significantly stronger safeguards in Mexico than those provided under the WTO TRIPS Agreement;

45. Acknowledges the fact that the Agreement contains robust provisions on investment protection designed to increase investor confidence and ensure a fair and predictable regulatory environment; supports the replacement of the outdated investor-state dispute settlement mechanism with the new Investment Court System; notes that EU investment stocks in Mexico reached EUR 209 billion in 2023, and believes that replacing the outdated dispute settlement system with the Investment Court System will further secure significant investment ties; urges the parties to ensure the consistency of investment protection provisions with environmental policies, labour rights and human rights;

46. Notes the concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding the impact that regulatory developments, constitutional reforms and greater state intervention in key sectors have on the investment environment in Mexico, and underlines the importance of fostering investor confidence and long-term economic cooperation; underlines the importance of maintaining a stable, transparent and predictable regulatory framework for investment; notes that legal certainty and non-discrimination remain essential for sustaining investor confidence, and encourages continued efforts to ensure clarity, consistency and reliability in the regulatory environment affecting foreign investment; stresses that legal certainty and judicial independence are crucial for trade and investment; underlines that an independent judiciary is essential to ensure enforcement of contractual rights and non-discriminatory treatment of foreign investors; notes that the recent judicial reforms in Mexico raise concerns in this regard;

47. Notes the importance of ensuring that audit processes and tax administration practices do not generate legal uncertainty or administrative burdens and are not discriminatory for companies operating across both jurisdictions; underlines the need for enhanced cooperation between Mexican and EU fiscal authorities to avoid delays in operations and foster a transparent, predictable and investment-friendly environment for businesses on both sides; highlights the importance of taking into account the concerns of operators to ensure processes such as VAT refunds are improved;

48. Acknowledges the fact that both parties continue to face, at various levels, challenges related to corruption and governance; welcomes and encourages further efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law and institutional transparency; commends the inclusion, for the first time in an EU trade agreement, of a dedicated protocol on the prevention of and fight against corruption and the creation of a dedicated sub-committee on anti-corruption on trade and investment; recalls the importance of the meaningful and active participation of civil society actors in the fight against corruption, and calls on the parties to ensure their involvement in the protocol and in the dedicated sub-committee on anti-corruption on trade and investment established by it; calls on the parties to swiftly bring the anti-corruption protocol and the sub-committee into operation and to strengthen the protocol; acknowledges the fact that the Agreement contains firm commitments to fighting organised crime and money-laundering; highlights the importance of maintaining strong accountability and oversight mechanisms to mitigate potential risks of corruption; underlines the importance of continued efforts to uphold the rule of law, promote and protect human rights and strengthen democratic institutions in Mexico; emphasises that sustained progress in these areas is crucial for strengthening EU-Mexico relations;

49. Commends the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on trade and sustainable development (TSD) containing ambitious and legally binding commitments and dispute settlements mechanisms to protect the environment and uphold workers’ rights, including by effectively implementing the relevant international conventions, such as International Labour Organization’s core labour standards; notes, in particular, the strengthened framework for labour rights, non-discrimination and gender equality; welcomes the joint declaration on trade and gender equality; stresses that these commitments should be pursued consistently as part of economic growth and competitiveness; notes that these commitments are enforceable via dispute settlement procedures by independent panels of experts;

50. Welcomes the role of the Agreement in driving the commitment of both parties to effectively implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and all international environmental agreements that the EU or Mexico have respectively ratified;

51. Notes that the parties have agreed to initiate a review of the Agreement’s TSD provisions upon its entry into force, and to conclude it within 12 months; stresses the importance for the EU and Mexico of including, as part of this review, the Paris Agreement as an essential element of the Agreement;

52. Notes that the Agreement recognises the EU’s right to act in line with its precautionary approach whereby both sides are free to adopt measures to protect human, animal and plant health in the face of a perceived risk, while ensuring that measures are proportionate and science-based;

Parliamentary and institutional oversight

53. Considers it important that the JPC be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Joint Council and that the JPC be able to make recommendations to the Joint Council on the implementation of the Agreement; supports the holding of two meetings of the JPC per year to continue deepening parliamentary relations between Parliament and the Congress of Mexico;

54. Supports the establishment of domestic advisory groups by each party to advise on all relevant issues covered by the Agreement; highlights the role of domestic advisory groups in ensuring the effective implementation of the Agreement, in particular as regards the TSD provisions;

55. Calls on the Commission to ensure effective and transparent monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement, including regular reporting to Parliament on progress in key areas such as legal certainty for investors, the implementation of trade and investment commitments, respect for labour and environmental standards, the rule of law, anti-corruption and security cooperation;

Implementation and monitoring

56. Stresses the need to ensure that the relevant institutional bodies are tasked with monitoring the implementation, operation and impact of the Agreement;

57. Calls for the rapid establishment of subcommittees on areas such as development and international cooperation and anti-corruption on trade and investment, and of other bodies as deemed appropriate by the Joint Committee;

58. Notes with satisfaction that virtually all provisions of the political and cooperation part of the Agreement are proposed for provisional application, once Parliament has given its consent;

59. Recalls that the Agreement will require ratification at both EU and Member State level, whereas the EU-Mexico Interim Agreement on Trade will enter into force upon its ratification by Parliament and the Council; notes that this approach will avoid delays in the entry into force of the trade provisions, while maintaining the comprehensive nature of the Agreement and fully respecting the prerogatives of the Member States in areas beyond the EU’s exclusive competence;

° °

60. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government and Parliament of the United Mexican States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The modernised EU–Mexico Global Agreement represents a major step forward in strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and one of its closest partners in Latin America. Building on the original agreement that entered into force in 2000, the updated framework reflects more than two decades of deepening political, economic and social ties and responds to the evolving geopolitical and economic realities facing both partners.

Mexico is one of the European Union’s most strategic partners in the region. The EU is Mexico’s third-largest trading partner and a major source of foreign direct investment. Over the past twenty-five years, bilateral trade has grown substantially, demonstrating the mutual benefits of open, rules-based cooperation. The modernised agreement aims to consolidate and expand this relationship by updating the legal and institutional framework governing political dialogue, economic cooperation and trade relations.

From a political perspective, the agreement reinforces the shared commitment of the EU and Mexico to multilateralism, and the rules-based international order. At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and growing protectionist tendencies in parts of the world, strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries is of strategic importance. The agreement provides a platform to deepen cooperation on global challenges such as sustainable development, digital transformation and security. It also enhances political dialogue and cooperation across a wide range of policy areas, thereby strengthening the broader strategic partnership between the two sides.

From an economic and trade perspective, the modernised agreement represents a significant upgrade of the trade pillar of the EU–Mexico relationship. The updated trade provisions aim to improve market access for goods and services, strengthen rules on public procurement and intellectual property, and provide a more predictable and transparent framework for businesses and investors. Importantly, the agreement also marks a milestone in EU trade policy as the first trade agreement to include a dedicated anti-corruption clause. Transparency, good governance and the fight against corruption are essential conditions for fair legal certainty and sustainable economic cooperation.

The agreement is also expected to create new opportunities for European companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, by reducing barriers to trade and investment and by facilitating participation in procurement markets. For European exporters and investors, Mexico represents a dynamic and growing economy with strong potential for further cooperation, particularly in sectors such as digital services, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, continued efforts to strengthen the rule of law and legal certainty will remain essential to ensuring a stable and predictable investment environment. With the signing of this agreement, total EU exports of goods and services could increase by 75% in the most ambitious scenario, and EU companies could save up to EUR 100 million per year in customs duties.

The modernised Global Agreement strengthens the EU’s engagement with Latin America at a time when closer transatlantic cooperation is increasingly important. By deepening ties with Mexico, the EU reinforces its presence in the region and contributes to a more diversified and resilient network of international partnerships. The signing of this agreement demonstrates, once again, that the EU is committed to Latin America, a key region with which we share historical, cultural, and linguistic ties. The modernised EU–Mexico Global Agreement constitutes a forward-looking framework that will further expand economic cooperation and reinforce the strategic partnership in the years to come.

ANNEX: DECLARATIONS OF INPUT

DECLARATION OF INPUT FROM JAVI LÓPEZ

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Embassy of Mexico in the European Union

Government of Mexico

Gobierno de España

European External Action Service

DG INTPA

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

DECLARATION OF INPUT FROM BORJA GIMÉNEZ LARRAZ

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE)

Confederation of European Business (Business Europe)

Universidad de Sevilla

Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Conservas de Pescados y Productos Transformados de Pescados y Mariscos - Centro Nacional de Conocimiento y Tecnología para la Industria Marina, Acuícola y Alimentaria (ANFACO-CYTMA)

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Embassy of Mexico to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg / Mission of Mexico to the European Union

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

23.6.2026

Result of final vote

–:

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Key to symbols: