EU-Brazil Summit
L. I. Lula, N. Sarkozy
© F. de La Mure / MAEE
- On: 22.12.2008
- In: Rio de Janeiro
The President of the Council of the European Union, Nicolas Sarkozy, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, adopted a joint action plan devoted to creating a tangible EU-Brazil strategic partnership.
The 2nd EU-Brazil Summit took place in Rio de Janeiro on 22 December 2008. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the Brazilian party, while the EU was represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, in his capacity as President of the Council of the European Union, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.
The summit marked a new stage in EU-Brazil relations. The launch of the strategic partnership in July 2007 at the 1st EU-Brazil Summit, under the Portuguese Presidency, laid the foundations for closer relations. This summit helped to define the content and the priorities which are reflected in a joint action plan that is currently under negotiation and in a statement of the Heads of State. This document will include a series of specific commitments in the following fields: security, sustainable development, regional cooperation, research and new technologies, migration, education and culture.
The discussions included regional issues of common interest to the EU and Brazil and major global challenges such as the world economic and financial crisis, combating climate change and energy security.
The EU is Brazil's leading trade partner and represents 22.5% of Brazil's total trade. In 2007, the EU imported €32.3 billion in Brazilian goods and exported €21.2 billion in goods to Brazil. The EU is also a major investor in Brazil with investment capital amounting to €88 billion in 2006.
Gallery- Updated: 30.12.2008
