Retos institucionales para fortalecer el papel de México en la cooperación internacional

At different points in time, Mexico has played a leading role in international cooperation for development. However, our contribution has been erratic due to the lack of an effective institutional framework. According to Luz María de la Mora Sánchez, if Mexico is to fully exploit its efforts in this area, far-reaching structural reforms are required, namely the creation of a legal framework that defines organizational mechanisms and participating institutions, and allocates resources for the implementation and development of cooperation initiatives. But while the International Cooperation for Development Law presented to the Mexican Senate in 2007 is a step in the right direction, providing as it does for the setting up of a cooperation agency, a fund, a register and an information system, the author believes this is not sufficient. There are a whole series of budget, tax, government purchases and customs laws and regulations that have a direct impact on cooperation received and given by Mexico and which need to be amended. A new legal and institutional framework, she concludes, would go a long way to helping the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs guarantee cooperation is used effectively as a foreign policy tool in keeping with national interests. It would also facilitate the drawing up of a constructive cooperation agenda, which, in turn would shore up Mexico’s image abroad by demonstrating that we are capable of helping solve global problems.