ABSTRACT
Introduction The relationship between Europe and Mexico has always been very important for historic, political, economic and cultural reasons. Beyond the historical ties of the colonial period, Europe has remained significant in the collective imagination of the Mexican people since the early years of the country’s independence: from the assimilation of the ideas of liberty and equality emanating from the French Revolution that fuelled the fight for independence, passing through the late nineteenth-century notions of progress, up to the twentieth-century process of regional integration and the European social model. The Mexican government in particular has promoted an image of the European Union (EU) as a key trade partner that is indispensable for the diversification of Mexico’s economic dependency on the United States of America (USA). Over time, a series of perceptions of the EU have gained currency, ranging from strategic economic partner to ‘civilian power’ and political ally, with a stronger focus on its international role. It is possible to identify a mosaic of perceptions held by the Mexicans about the EU. The main objective of this chapter is to analyse these images. First, the analysis will examine the historical account of this bilateral relation. Second, it will present the most relevant perceptions by dividing them into different sections and actors in Mexican society: public opinion, political and economic elites, civil society and the media. Finally, the chapter presents a series of recommendations for the Union’s strategy towards my country.
