MEXICO AND SPAIN SIGN THE FINAL ACT OF THE BINATIONAL COMMISSION’S 10TH MEETING

On behalf of the governments of Spain and Mexico, Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo signed the final act of the 10th meeting of the Mexico-Spain Binational Commission today. The signing was held at the Santa Cruz Palace in Madrid, headquarters of the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

During the bilateral meeting they held prior to the signing, the foreign ministers reviewed the main achievements of the 10th Binational Commission and agreed on how important it is for the immigration authorities of both countries to seek a solution to the issue of travelers who are not admitted at the Spanish airports. They also pledged to work together for the success of the G20 Leaders’ Summit that will be held in Los Cabos and the Iberoamerican Summit to be held in Cádiz.

The final act includes the conclusions of the meetings of the various binational subcommittees (Political Affairs; Educational and Cultural Cooperation; Defense; Legal-Consular and Interior Affairs; and Economic Affairs), which were held on March 28th in Madrid.

The final act states the importance of the strategic relationship and privileged partnership, and says that Spain will support Mexico in ending the threat of organized crime. It also indicates the joint interest of the two countries in signing a cooperation agreement in this issue. The importance of multilateralism is confirmed, as is the need to continue supporting Spain’s entrance to the UN Security Council. It was also agreed to support the upcoming Iberoamerican Summit in Cadiz.

The Legal, Consular and Interior Subcommittee renewed the two countries’ cooperation on extradition; streamlining civil and commercial letters rogatory; exchanging information when individuals are detected using false identification; and Spain’s readiness to study Mexico’s request to exempt Mexican tourists who stay in Spanish homes from needing a letter of invitation.

In Educational and Cultural Cooperation, it was agreed that the relationship between the two countries is exemplary, intense, diverse and rich. It was also agreed to make progress on the bilateral agenda and to help create the Latin American Cultural Space.
In the economic sphere, the final declaration includes a commitment to enhance binational trade and stresses the importance of legal security in preserving and promoting investments.

Lastly, in addition to the final act of the 10th meeting of the Mexico-Spain Binational Commission, both officials signed a cooperation agreement between the Foreign Ministry and the Cervantes Institute and a Memorandum of Understanding in Triangular Cooperation.

The agreement between the Cervantes Institute and the Foreign Ministry includes the reciprocal use of their infrastructure, including the Mexican consulates, as well as joint cultural and Spanish-language projects.