D-BR - European Parliament

General documents - AFET Press Release of 22 June 2023 on ending their visit to Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:25:56 GMT

Foreign Affairs Committee delegation ends visit to Brazil

On June 21-22, MEPs discussed the EU-Mercosul Agreement, geopolitical challenges and the new EU agenda for Latin America with Brazilian authorities, civil society groups and stakeholders.

A delegation of MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee visited Brasília for talks with high-level representatives of the Brazilian government, members of the National Congress, civil society groups and think tanks. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its global consequences was among the topics discussed over the two days, which also included exchanges about trade, the EU-Mercosul agreement, geopolitical challenges in Latin America, the upcoming summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), as well as how to revamp EU-Brazil relations after the election of Lula da Silva as President of Brazil.

In addition, the agenda included meetings with the Vice-President of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry and Trade, Geraldo Aleckim, and the Secretary for Europe and North America of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Luisa Escorel.

The delegation also met with the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defence of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, and with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defence of the National Congress, chaired by its President Paulo Alexandre Barbosa.

[...]

Full text of the AFET Press Release of 22 June 2023 (EN)
Texto completo do comunicado de imprensa da AFET de 22 de junho de 2023 (PT)
Texto completo del comunicado de prensa de AFET del 22 de junio de 2023 (ES)

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BR Mission to Brazil from 14-18 May 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Wed, 24 May 2023 08:35:59 GMT

From 14 to 18 May, the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) went on a mission to Brasilia and São Paulo (Brazil).

Members met with representatives of the executive and the legislative, as well as with civil society organisations, social partners and think tanks. Main topics of the visit were the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, Deforestation in the Amazon and Climate Policy, Russia's war against Ukraine and EU-Brazil economic and scientific cooperation.

EP Press Release of 12 May 2023
EP Press Release of 22 May 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BR visit of MEPs to Brazil 15-17 May 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Wed, 24 May 2023 08:32:43 GMT

Press release

19-05-2023

Brazil: MEPs visit Brazil to deepen the Strategic Partnership and to discuss the EU-Mercosur Agreement

From 15 to 17 May, a delegation of MEPs led by the Chair of Parliament's Delegation for relation with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR), José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal), visited Brazil. During their visit, the first of a European Parliament Delegation since 2017, MEPs met with Members of Congress, the Vice-President, the President of the Senate and the Congress. the ministers for environment and for human rights and other government officials, representatives of civil society and the indigenous communities, the business community, academia and think tanks.

After the visit, Delegation Chair José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal) said:

"The visit of our Delegation to Brazil came very timely. Since the inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva commonly known as Lula, on 1 January 2023, Brazil and the European Union are working hard to revitalise the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, established in 2007. The EU Commissioners Frans Timmermans, Margrethe Vestager and Virginijus Sinkevičius have already come to Brasilia for intensive talks. The visit of our Delegation and the parallel visit of the International Trade Committee is a strong signal that we want to strengthen also the parliamentary component of the bilateral partnership.

The visit allowed the Delegation Members to get a comprehensive picture about Brazil's current political, economic and social situation. The 8 January rioters' massive attack on the Brazilian democracy was successfully repelled and the Brazilian institutions emerged from this confrontation strengthened.

The Brazilian Government and Congress are committed to conclude the negotiations of the EU- Mercosur Association Agreement in the second half of this year under the Brazilian Mercosur and the Spanish EU Presidencies. We listened carefully to their concerns regarding the "additional instrument" or "side-letter" proposed by the EU Commission. Both side remain committed to support all efforts to arrive at a fair and balanced agreement.

Our delegation conveyed to all interlocutors our deep concern about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which is ultimately a war of dictatorships against democracies. All Brazilian institutions we met reaffirmed their condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and emphasised that Brazil supported all UN General Assembly resolutions on the subject. At the same time, they stressed the need to negotiate a peace agreement as soon as possible.

We welcome the new Brazilian government's strong commitment to halting deforestation and protecting indigenous communities. The European Parliament supports all initiatives in this area, in particular the Amazon Fund, which - as our partners have signalled to us - plays a crucial role in saving the tropical forests."

The delegation, led by D-BR Chair José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, Portugal) was composed of João ALBUQUERQUE (S&D, Portugal, 1st Vice-Chair, Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, Germany), 2nd Vice-Chair, Herbert DORFMANN (EPP, Italy), César LUENA (S&D, Spain), Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO (S&D, Spain), Elzbieta RAFALSKA (ECR, Poland), Enikö GYÖRI, (NI, Hungary).

Full text of the Press Statement of 22 May 2023 (EN only)

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Latest news - D-BR Mission to Brazil from 14-18 May 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Wed, 24 May 2023 08:30:49 GMT

From 14 to 18 May, the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) went on a mission to Brasilia and São Paulo (Brazil).

EP Press Release of 12 May 2023
EP Press Release of 22 May 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 27 April 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:40:39 GMT

This meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) took place on 27 April 2023 and focused on the preparations of the D-BR mission to Brazil in week 20.

Meeting documents of 27 April 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - DMER meeting in association with D-BR on 23 March 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:40:33 GMT

The European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) had been associated to an item in the last meeting of the Delegation for relations with Mercosur (DMER) on 23 March 2023 on the following exchange of views:

· Brazil: monitoring the political landscape in the country following the 2022 general election, with special reference to the European Union-Mercosur Association Agreement

Meeting documents of 23 March 2023
Webstreaming of the Meeting of 23 March 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 10 November 2022 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:40:28 GMT

The meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) of 10 November 2022 included an Exchange of views on the results of the presidential elections in Brazil and its consequences for the EU-Brazil relations.

Meeting documents of 10 November 2022
Webstreaming of the meeting of 10 November 2022
Minutes of the meeting of 10 November 2022 : [EN] - [PT] - [FR]

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Latest news - D-BR Meeting of 27 April 2023 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:33:03 GMT

The last meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) took place on 27 April 2023 and focused on the preparations of the D-BR mission to Brazil in week 20.

Meeting documents of 27 April 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BR meeting (in AFET) on 31 August 2022 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 14:43:31 GMT

The Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) had been associated to an Exchange of views with Brian Glynn, Managing Director Americas, European External Action Service (EEAS) on the EU-Brazil relations and the upcoming Brazilian general election, which took place place within the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on 31 August 2022.

Meeting documents of 31 August 2022
Webstreaming of the meeting of 31 August 2022

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP Resolution of 19 January 2023 on the storming of the Brazilian democratic institutions - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 09:09:09 GMT

The storming of the Brazilian democratic institutions

Parliament expresses solidarity with democratically elected President Lula Da Silva, his government and Brazilian institutions and condemns in the strongest terms the criminal actions perpetrated by supporters of ex-president Bolsonaro, urging them to accept the democratic outcome of the elections.

MEPs welcome the efforts to ensure a prompt and impartial investigation to identify and prosecute those involved, the instigators as well as state institutions that failed to act in order to prevent the attacks.

They highlight a recent decision taken by the Supreme Court to approve federal prosecutors' request to investigate ex-President Bolsonaro as he 'may have contributed, in a very relevant way, to the occurrence of criminal and terrorist acts'.

Full text of the EP Resolution of 19 January 2023 (EN)
Texto integral da Resolução do PE de 19 de janeiro de 2023 (PT)

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - HRVP Blog of 12 January 2023 on the attack on democracy in Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 10:49:37 GMT

After the new attack on democracy in Brasilia, what should we do?

HR/VP blog - Last Sunday, an anti-government mob ransacked the Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court and the Congress in Brasilia. The tactics used and the underlying dynamics have clear similarities with the assault on the US Congress in January 2021. We need to be clear about the reasons behind such attacks on democracy and work harder to defend it at home and globally.

Sunday 8 January will go down in Brazil's history as one of its darkest days. My first phone call with the new Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, was not only to congratulate him, but above all to reiterate the European Union's full support and solidarity to President Lula and his government in the face of this vandalism. The images of the rampage were also particularly appalling for me, because I had the opportunity to visit in 2021 the Planalto Palace, the seat of the Brazilian Presidency, and admire its architecture and the artworks, which have now been destroyed.

However, the attack on Brazil's core institutions did not start last Sunday. They are the outcome of years of political polarisation. During the term of former President Jair Bolsonaro the foundation of a pluralist society and democratic institutions were continuously attacked. Political parties were demonized, the judiciary was harassed, the press vilified, and civil society set aside in the main debates. Social media have put such trends on steroids, aggravating the division in Brazilian society. We know that such information bubbles feed "culture wars" and identity politics.

[...]

Full text of the HRVP Blog of 12 January 2023 (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Council of the EU Statement of 11 January 2023 on attack on democratic institutions - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:27:59 GMT

Brazil: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the attack on democratic institutions

On Sunday 8 January, supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia invaded the buildings of the Brazilian Executive, Legislative and the Supreme Court, leading to riots and an open attack against the democratic institutions of the country. These acts of vandalism happened just a few days after the inauguration of the democratically elected president of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The European Union condemns firmly these shocking acts of political violence, and the unacceptable attack against democracy they represent. We express our solidarity with President Lula and the Brazilian institutions in their defence of democracy, and support the measures adopted to restore order and respect for the rule of law. We welcome the ongoing efforts to investigate those responsible for the attacks on Brazil's democracy and for acts of vandalism against public property and historic national heritage.

The EU recalls that the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms must take place with respect for the Constitution and democratically elected institutions. Political differences cannot justify criminal acts or call into question the results of democratic elections.

The EU reiterates its trust in Brazil's democracy and in the strength of its institutions. Our conviction is that they will prevail over violence and extremism.

[...]

Full text of the Council of the EU of 11 January 2023 (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP Joint statement of 9 January 2023 on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil - Delegation for relations with Mercosur - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:08:44 GMT

Joint statement on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil

Lead MEPs condemn Sunday's violent storming of the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice in Brasilia by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Chair of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister (EPP, DE), Chair of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Javi López (S&D, ES), Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, PT) and Chair of the Delegation for relations with Mercosur Jordi Cañas (Renew, ES), stated:

"We strongly condemn yesterday's violent and illegal storming of the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice in Brasilia by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. This was an inacceptable and heinous attack on the heart of Brazilian democracy, whose perpetrators and instigators must be punished with the full force of the law.

We express our full solidarity with the Brazilian Congress, the government of President Lula da Silva and all other democratic institutions in Brazil. It is one of the fundamental principles of democracies that results of fair and transparent elections must be respected, and any attempt to overturn them through violent acts must be firmly rejected. We are concerned about the increasing acts of political violence by extremist supporters of Brazil's former president, which directly promote speeches and actions that move to confrontation, hatred, radicalization and even crime. We call on all parties to do everything possible to overcome this dangerous situation and urgently adopt measures to prevent these acts from happening again while bringing those responsible to justice."

Full text of the joint Press Statement of 9 January 2023 : [EN] - [PT] - [ES]

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP Joint statement of 9 January 2023 on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil - Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:07:02 GMT

Joint statement on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil

Lead MEPs condemn Sunday's violent storming of the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice in Brasilia by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Full text of the joint Press Statement of 9 January 2023 : [EN] - [PT] - [ES]

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP Joint statement of 9 January 2023 on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:04:55 GMT

Joint statement on the illegal storming of democratic institutions in Brazil

Lead MEPs condemn Sunday's violent storming of the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice in Brasilia by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Full text of the joint Press Statement of 9 January 2023 : [EN] - [PT] - [ES]

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - HRVP Statement of 8 January 2023 on the storming of government quarters in Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:35:54 GMT

Brazil: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the anti-democratic storming of government quarters

The EU condemns in the strongest terms the anti-democratic acts of violence that took place on Sunday, 8 January, in the heart of Brasilia's government quarter.

The EU reiterates its full support to President Lula and to the Brazilian democratic system and expresses solidarity with the democratic institutions targeted by this attack. Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism.

Brazilian political leaders, and especially former President Bolsonaro, need to act responsibly and urge their supporters to go home. The place to resolve political differences is within Brazil's democratic institutions and not through violence on the streets.

Full text of the HRVP Statement of 8 January 2023 (EN)

General documents - HRVP Statement of 31 October 2022 on the presidential elections in Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:35:31 GMT

Brazil: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the presidential elections

Brazilian citizens went to the polls on 30 October to elect their new president in a peaceful and well-organised election.

Following the official announcement by the Superior Electoral Court, the EU congratulates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as President-Elect and Geraldo José Rodrigues Alckmin Filho as the Vice President-elect on the victory.

The EU commends the Electoral Court in particular for the effective and transparent manner it conducted its constitutional mandate throughout all stages of the electoral process, demonstrating once again the strength of Brazil's institutions and its democracy.

The EU and Brazil have a longstanding Strategic Partnership, based on shared values and respect for Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

We are committed to deepening and broadening our relationship with Brazil in all areas of mutual interest, including on trade, environment, climate change and the digital agenda to the benefit of our citizens.

We will also enhance our work together in favour of inclusive, just and sustainable development.

I look forward to working together with President Lula and his government, as well as with the new Congress and State authorities.

Full text of the HRVP Statement of 31 October 2022 (EN)

Latest news - Bureau of the D-BR delegation - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 13:02:53 GMT

The Bureau of the Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) is currently constituted of the following members:

Chair: José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, Portugal)

1st Vice Chair: João ALBUQUERQUE (S&D, Portugal)
2nd Vice-Chair: Anna CAVAZZINI (GREENS/EFA, Germany)

General documents - D-BR Meeting (interparliamentary) of 14 July 2022 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:58:47 GMT

The last meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) had been scheduled as an interparliamentary meeting and took place on 14 July 2022. It included Exchanges of views on the state of play of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement; on the geopolitical consequences of the Ukraine war and on the fight against climate change and defence of human rights.

Meeting documents of 14 July 2022
Webstreaming of the meeting of 14 July 2022
Minutes of the meeting of 14 July 2022 : [EN] - [PT] - [FR]

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 23 June 2022 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:56:12 GMT

On 23 June 2022, the meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) included an Exchange of views on the results of the visit of the EU Commissioner for Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, in Brazil, an Exchange of views on the political and economic situation in Brazil and the European Union and an Exchange of views on the Digital Agenda - Opportunities for EU-Brazil cooperation.

Meeting documents of 23 June 2022
Webstreaming of the meeting of 23 June 2022
Minutes of the meeting of 23 June 2022 : [EN] - [PT] - [FR]

General documents - EP Resolution of 7 July 2022 on the situation of indigenous and environmental defenders in Brazil - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 09:14:42 GMT

The situation of indigenous and environmental defenders in Brazil, including the killing of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira

MEPs strongly condemn the brutal murder of environmental and human rights defenders as well as indigenous people in Brazil, most recently the killing of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian activist Bruno Pereira. They call on the Brazilian authorities to conduct an exhaustive, impartial and independent investigation into these murders and to ensure that they fully comply with due process at all times.

The resolution also denounces the increasing violence, attacks and harassment against human rights and environmental defenders, indigenous peoples, minorities and journalists in the country. It pushes back against the continuous aggressive rhetoric, verbal attacks and intimidating statements by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, while deploring the sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated against women, girls and environmental and indigenous defenders.

Full text of the EP Resolution of 7 July 2022 (EN)
Texto integral da Resolução do PE de 7 de julho de 2022 (PT)

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 3 February 2022 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:25:34 GMT

The meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) took place on 3 February 2022 and included an Exchange of views on the political and economic situation in Brazil; an Exchange of views on the Green Deal - Team Europe-Brazil Framework for Sustainable Investment and Recovery and an Exchange of views on cooperation to address the fight against poverty, hunger and inequality in Brazil.

Meeting documents of 3 February 2022
Webstreaming of the meeting of 3 February 2022
Minutes of the meeting of 3 February 2022 : [EN] - [FR] - [PT]

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 15 April 2021 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 17 May 2022 16:49:19 GMT

A meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) took place on 15 April 2021 and included the following discussions: an Exchange of views on the economic and sanitary (COVID-19) situation in Brazil; an Exchange of views on the scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Brazil and the results of the 10th Joint Steering Committee Meeting and an Exchange of views on the situation of human rights defenders in Brazil including the case of Fernando dos Santos Araújo.

Meeting documents of 15 April 2021
Webstreaming of the meeting of 15 April 2021
José Vargas' intervention
Minutes of the meeting of 15 April 2021 : [EN] - [FR] - [PT]

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 11 December 2020 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 17 May 2022 16:48:17 GMT

The meeting of the Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) was held semi-remotely on Friday, 11 December 2020 jointly with the Delegation for Relations with Mercosur (DMER).

The debate focused on the state of play of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, deforestation in the Amazon, the situation in Venezuela and the evaluation of the results of the municipal elections in Brazil.

Meeting documents of 11 December 2020
Webstreaming of the meeting of 11 December 2020
Minutes of the D-BR/DMER Meeting of 11 December 2020 : [EN] - [PT] - [FR] - [ES]

General documents - D-BR Meeting of 23 January 2020 - Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Tue, 17 May 2022 16:46:46 GMT

During the meeting on 23 January 2020, the following agenda items have been dealt with:

Exchange of views on EU-Brazil relations with
• H.E. Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the European Union, Marcos Galvão
• Matthias Jørgensen, Head of Unit, Trade Relations with Latin America, DG Trade, European Commission
• Veronique Lorenzo, Head of South America Division, European External Action Service

Exchange of views on the work programme and priorities of the delegation

Meeting documents of 23 January 2020
Webstreaming of the meeting of 23 January 2020
Minutes of the meeting of 23 January 2020 : [EN] - [PT] - [FR]