Request by Mexico for observer status with the Council of Europe
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- See Doc. 8561, report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr Palmatjavila Ribó. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 4 November 1999.
- Thesaurus
1. Mexico requested Observer status with the Council of Europe on 7 December 1998, in accordance with Statutory Resolution (93) 26. In the letter addressed to the President of the Assembly on 9 April 1999, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers asked for the Assembly’s opinion on this request
2. The Assembly notes that Mexico is firmly committed to establishing closer relations with Europe and European institutions. It is the only Latin American country which has signed an economic association, political consultation and co-operation agreement with the European Union and which is in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Commission.
3. Mexico is also the only Latin American country which is a member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), thus demonstrating its interest in the democratic reconstruction of central and east European countries. It is also the only Latin American member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
4. The Assembly takes note of the substantial democratic reforms which Mexico has successfully conducted over the past few years in order to establish a genuine pluralist democracy in which the separation of powers is respected.
5. Mexico is party to forty-two international human rights treaties, including both United Nations and regional conventions. The Assembly believes that the Mexican authorities have demonstrated their real determination to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all citizens. However, further progress still needs to be made in this field.
6. The Assembly takes note of the substantial democratic reforms which Mexico has successfully conducted over the past few years in order to establish a genuine pluralist democracy in which the separation of powers is respected.
7. Mexico is party to forty-two international human rights treaties, including both United Nations and regional conventions. The Assembly believes that the Mexican authorities have demonstrated their real determination to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all citizens. However, further progress still needs to be made in this field.
8. The Assembly therefore urges Mexico to implement, as soon as possible, the recommendations made by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and to continue its constructive co-operation with this body.
9. Mexico has attended Council of Europe meetings since 1995 and holds observer status with several intergovernmental committees.
10. Where the Parliamentary Assembly is concerned, parliamentary delegations from Mexico have taken part, since 1994, in the Assembly’s annual debates on the activities of the OECD and, since 1996, in the debates on the activities of the EBRD. Regular contact has also been established with the Political Affairs Committee.
11. The Assembly takes note of the fact that a separate unit has been set up in the Mexican Embassy in Brussels to deal with relations with the Council of Europe and that the Mexican Government has already decided to have a permanent office in Strasbourg.
12. The Assembly is of the opinion that Mexico shares the values upheld by the Council of Europe and that it can make a positive contribution to the Organisation’s work.
13. The Assembly is therefore of the opinion that Mexico meets the requirements of Statutory Resolution (93) 26 and recommends that the Committee of Ministers grant Mexico Observer status with the Council of Europe.
