At the meeting, the two officials discussed the bilateral relationship and the progress of the negotiations to modernize the bilateral legal framework between Mexico and the European Union.
Both Undersecretary de Icaza and Deputy Secretary General Belliard agreed that it is in the interest of both parties to conclude negotiation of the new Mexico-EU agreement in the first half of 2018. The new agreement will deepen coordination in addressing the new shared challenges that have arisen in the international arena.
The two officials also made note of the excellent level of the political dialogue, cooperation, trade and investment between Mexico and the European Union, and exchanged views on the situation in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and on the bi-regional relationship with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Pacific Alliance.
They also reviewed both regional and multilateral areas of agreement and explored ways to strengthen cooperation on climate change, migration, exponential technological change and peacekeeping.
Mexico and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2009 and, in addition to the high-level political dialogue, have eight sectoral dialogues on climate change, the environment, macroeconomic issues, human rights, security and justice, higher education, the digital agenda and energy.