Year of Publication
2004
Organization Name
Commission of the European Communities
Publisher
European Commission
City
Brussels
Country of Publication
Belgium
ISBN or ISSN
92-894-6485-2
Considered Countries
Mexico
Category
Official Documents
Theme
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
BIREGIONAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Agreements
BIREGIONAL DIALOGUES UE-LAC
Civil Society
Keyword(s)
European Community
Foreign Policy
Political Dialogue
Civil Society
Human Rights
Democracy
Trade
Cooperation
Abstract
As the European Union and Mexico signed an ambitious agreement (1) (global agreement) in 2000, a growing
concern in both the EU and Mexico was the importance of involving civil society in the ongoing dialogue to
support ‘participative’ democracy. Taking into account the concerns of many civil society groups on both
sides of the Atlantic, the EU and Mexico agreed to a forum in 2002 that would bring together representatives
from the Mexican government, the European Commission and European and Mexican civil society.
As civil society dialogue is not explicitly foreseen in the global agreement, the event signified a unique
opportunity for civil society to outline conclusions and constructive proposals that allow for the strengthening
of relations between the EU and Mexico with the full participation of societies at large. It was also an
opportunity for the EU and Mexico to underline their mutual support for engagement in dialogue with civil
society.
This publication is intended to:
• provide the background to the event;
• set out a summary of the different opinions expressed at the forum itself in order to act as a point of
reference for the future development of bilateral relations and civil society’s participation within them.
concern in both the EU and Mexico was the importance of involving civil society in the ongoing dialogue to
support ‘participative’ democracy. Taking into account the concerns of many civil society groups on both
sides of the Atlantic, the EU and Mexico agreed to a forum in 2002 that would bring together representatives
from the Mexican government, the European Commission and European and Mexican civil society.
As civil society dialogue is not explicitly foreseen in the global agreement, the event signified a unique
opportunity for civil society to outline conclusions and constructive proposals that allow for the strengthening
of relations between the EU and Mexico with the full participation of societies at large. It was also an
opportunity for the EU and Mexico to underline their mutual support for engagement in dialogue with civil
society.
This publication is intended to:
• provide the background to the event;
• set out a summary of the different opinions expressed at the forum itself in order to act as a point of
reference for the future development of bilateral relations and civil society’s participation within them.