11. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 340/1

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 7 October 1991

concerning the conclusion of the Framework Agreement for cooperation between the EuropeanEconomic Community and the United Mexican States

(91/627/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, States is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. Thetext of the Agreement is annexed to this Decision.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the EuropeanEconomic Community, and in particular Articles 113 and235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (' ),

Having regard to the opinion of the EuropeanParliament ( 2 ),

Whereas the Community should approve, for the attainmentof its aims in the sphere of external economic relations, theFramework Agreement for cooperation negotiated with theUnited Mexican States,

Article 2

The President of the Council shall give, on behalf of theCommunity, the notification provided for in Article 43 of theAgreement ( 3 ).

Article 3

The Commission, assisted by representatives of the MemberStates, shall represent the Community in the Joint Committeeset up by Article 39 of the Agreement.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Done at Luxembourg, 7 October 1991.

Article 1 For the Council

The President

W. KOKThe Framework Agreement for cooperation between theEuropean Economic Community and the United Mexican

(1) OJ No C 91, 9. 4. 1991, p. 4.(2) OJ No C 267, 14. 10. 1991. (

3 ) See page 16 of this Official Journal.

No L 340 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 12. 91

FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION

between the European Economic Community and the United Mexican States

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

on the one part,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES,

on the other part,

CONSIDERING the traditional links of friendship between the Member States of the European EconomicCommunity and the United Mexican States;

MINDFUL of the common will of the European Economic Community, hereinafter referred to as the 'Community'and the United Mexican States, hereinafter referred to as 'Mexico', to expand and diversify trade between them andto step up cooperation in trade, economic matters, science and technology and financial matters;

CONSIDERING that the main beneficiary of cooperation is man, and that respect of his rights should therefore bepromoted;

BELIEVING that the Parties and relations between them have developed beyond the scope of the CooperationAgreement concluded between them in 1975;

RECOGNIZING the positive consequences of the process of reform and modernization of the economy in Mexicofor trade and economic relations between the Parties;

WELCOMING the institutionalization of dialogue between the Rio Group and the Community and its MemberStates by the Rome Declaration of 20 December 1990;

DECLARING that the basic aim of this Agreement shall be to consolidate, intensify and diversify relations betweenthe Parties, to the benefit of both;

TAKING ACCOUNT of the acknowledged differences in the economic development of the Parties;

DESIROUS of contributing to the development of international economic relations;

CONSCIOUS of the international importance of the consolidation of the European single market in the worldcontext;

RECOGNIZING that the Community and its Member States attach great importance to the furtherance of tradeand economic cooperation with developing countries, in the interests of helping to promote and strengthen theireconomies;

CONVINCED of the importance of the rules and principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) for the purposes of open and continually expanding international trade, and reaffirming theircommitments under that Agreement;

CONSIDERING the importance attached by both Parties to the protection of the environment, resolved toredouble their efforts to ensure that this issue is fully integrated into any development policy while taking intoaccount local and global implications;

MINDFUL of the importance of facilitating the involvement in cooperation of the individuals and entities directlyconcerned, particularly economic operators and the bodies representing them;

HAVE DECIDED to conclude this Agreement and to this end have designated as their plenipotentiaries;

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES:

Jacques F. POOS,

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,

President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities;

Abel MATUTES,

Member of the Commission of the European Communities;

11. 12. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 340/3

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES:

Fernando SOLANA MORALES,

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States;

WHO, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Both Parties hereby undertake to impart renewed vigour torelations between them. To achieve this essential objective,they resolve to promote in particular the development ofcooperation relating to trade, investment, finance andtechnology, taking account of Mexico's special situation as adeveloping country.

CHAPTER I

Economic cooperation

Article 2

1. The Contracting Parties, taking into account theirmutual interest and long- and medium-term economicobjectives, undertake to establish economic cooperation ofthe widest possible scope. The aims of such cooperation shallbe in particular:

(a) generally to step up and diversify economic linksbetween them;

(b) to contribute to the sustainable development of theireconomies and standards of living;

(c) to open up new sources of supply and new markets;

(d) to encourage the flow of investment and technology;

(e) to promote cooperation between economic operators,particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises;

(f) to establish conditions conducive to job-creation;

(g) to protect and improve the environment;

(h) to encourage rural development measures;

(i) to boost progress in science and technology.

(b) intellectual and industrial property, standards andquality standards;

(c) technology transfer;

(d) agro-industry;

(e) fish-farming and fisheries;

(f) energy planning and the efficient use of energy;

(g) environmental protection;

(h) management of natural resources;

(i) services, including financial services, tourism,transport, telecommunications and data processing;

(j) exchange of information on monetary issues.

3. In the interests of attaining the objectives of economiccooperation, the Contracting Parties shall, each inaccordance with its laws, endeavour to promote activitiesincluding the following:

(a) the stepping-up of contacts between the Parties, inparticular through the organization of conferences,seminars, trade and industrial missions, 'businessweeks', general and sectoral trade fairs and fact-findingmissions with a view to increasing the flow of trade andinvestment;

(b) participation by Community enterprises in fairs andexhibitions in Mexico, and vice versa;

(c) technical assistance, notably involving the provision ofexperts and the undertaking of specific studies;

(d) the setting up of joint ventures;

(e) cooperation between financial institutions;

(f) the exchange of relevant data, and in particular access toexisting or future databanks;

(g) the formation of networks of economic operators,particularly in industry.

2. Without excluding beforehand any area, theContracting Parties shall, in their mutual interest and withregard to their respective capacities, determine by commonagreement the spheres to be covered by economiccooperation. Cooperation shall centre particularly on thefollowing:

Cooperation between financial institutions

Article 3

In line with their needs and within the bounds of their(a) industry; programmes and laws, the Contracting Parties shall

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endeavour to encourage cooperation between financialinstitutions by means of measures to promote thefollowing:

exchanges of information and experience in matters ofmutual interest. Such cooperation shall take the forminter alia of seminars, conferences and workshops,

exchanges of experts,

the provision of technical assistance,

exchanges of information relating to statistics andmethods.

guidelines of paragraph 38 of the Rome Declaration onrelations between the European Economic Community andthe Rio Group. The same should apply to double taxationagreements.

The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to encouragemechanisms and operations for promoting investment withthe aim of identifying, and helping to take advantage of, newopportunities and collaborating in arranging promotionalevents including seminars, exhibitions and business trips andin enabling economic operators to generate investmentprojects.

Article 7Article 4

In view of the aims of economic cooperation, the ContractingParties shall endeavour to promote, so far as the laws of eachside allow, the conclusion between the Member States of theCommunity and Mexico of agreements relating to doubletaxation, and to encourage the exchange of information onthis issue.

Industrial cooperation

Article .5

The Contracting Parties shall promote the expansion anddiversification of Mexico's production base in the industrialand service sectors, directing their cooperation activities atsmall- and m