Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs María Teresa Mercado concludes travel to Europe

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs María Teresa Mercado concludes travel to Europe

• She visited Belgium, Germany and France and met with European authorities to discuss trade, investment, cooperation projects and human rights. The visit strengthens the Mexico-EU strategic partnership.
  

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs María Teresa Mercado Pérez traveled to Europe from April 19 to 25, visiting Belgium, Germany and France, where she reaffirmed the importance Mexico attaches to Europe as a key partner in various areas.

In Brussels, Undersecretary Mercado and the Director General for Bilateral Affairs, Jeroen Cooreman, co-chaired the ninth meeting of political consultations with Belgium to deepen the political and economic dialogue and cooperation projects. The two officials highlighted trade and investment, cooperation in the fight against drugs, the geopolitical situation and human rights. Mexico attaches special importance to its relationship with Belgium, the founding country and current president of the European Union (EU).

Undersecretary Mercado met with Brian Glynn, Managing Director for the Americas in the European External Action Service, to review the short-term bilateral agenda in order to continue the dynamic relationship.

She met with Francisco Fontan, Head of Cabinet of EU High Representative Josep Borrell; and with Simon Mordue, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of President Charles Michel in the Cabinet of the President of the European Council, stressing the importance of the strategic partnership between Mexico and the EU.

Ambassador Mercado met with Åsa Webber, Head of Cabinet of EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, to strengthen the EU-Mexico bilateral agenda and improve cooperation on security and human mobility issues.

Accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of the Navy and the governments of Oaxaca and Veracruz, the undersecretary met with the Head of International Trade and Foreign Policy at the European Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Eurochambers), Dominic Boucsein, to discuss investment opportunities in infrastructure projects in Mexico and areas of cooperation with EU business chambers.

With Felix Fernandez-Shaw, Director for the Americas of the European Commission's International Partnerships Department, she discussed the EU cooperation projects in Mexico and agreed that human development is a priority on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Germany, Ambassador Mercado accompanied the Mexican delegation at Hannover Messe, a leading trade fair that promotes technological-industrial exchanges. She inaugurated the Mexico Pavilion, which showcases the innovation, industrial talent and investment opportunities available in Mexico.

During the trade fair, the Undersecretary met with the President of the Mexico-Germany Parliamentary Group, Dunja Kreiser, and with the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Stefan Wenzel, to promote bilateral economic and political exchanges.

In Paris, together with the Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Anne-Marie Descôtes, the Undersecretary chaired a meeting for political consultations between Mexico and France to strengthen the bilateral agenda and explore bi-regional and multilateral collaboration. Mexico has had a strategic partnership with France since 2014.

Together with the Director of the National Institute of Public Service (INSP), Maryvonne Le Brignonen, Ambassador Mercado signed a letter of intent between the INSP and the Foreign Ministry's Matias Romero Institute.

She held a fruitful meeting with the Deputy Director General of the French Business Movement (Medef), Géraldine Lemblé, to discuss bilateral economic and trade opportunities.

Finally, in a dialogue with Mexican women, the Undersecretary listened to the challenges they face living in France, and presented Mexico's Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), a priority of Mexico's foreign policy, which seeks to eliminate gender gaps and inequalities and build fairer and more egalitarian societies. Mexico will host the III Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy.

Europe plays an important role in our foreign policy. The European Union as a whole is the second largest investor in Mexico, at more than 185.2 billion dollars. The main European investors are: Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. European investment is concentrated in the automotive, aerospace, beverages and pharmaceutical sectors.