EU proposes strategic partnership with Mexico

The European Union has proposed establishing a strategic partnership with Mexico to forge closer ties in areas including security, environment, energy and trade.

A plan set out by the European Commission includes the suggestion that the two sides hold summits every two years.

A statement from the European Council and the EU executive said it would represent "a major upgrading in EU-Mexico relations."

"Our relationship with Mexico has been growing and deepening in the last decades and Mexico has become one of our important partners not only in Central and Latin America but also on the global scale," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

The statement said the partnership would cover areas including human rights, the fight against terrorism and drugs, climate change, food prices, protection of fisheries, trade, development and investment.

The EU has strategic partnerships with China, India, Brazil and South Africa and has begun strategic partnership negotiations with Russia.

The Commission sees Mexico as a cultural and political bridge between North and South America and expects it to play an increasingly influential role in global affairs.

It said the proposal was part of a process of strengthening of bilateral ties started more than a decade ago and which have intensified since 2004.

The EU has been hit by strong criticism in South America recently for passing legislation to deal with illegal migrant workers in the bloc, who include many from South America.

- Reuters