EU texts

EC Press Release of 17 July 2023 on EIB lending €300 million to Santander in Brazil

Brazil: EIB lends €300 million to Banco Santander Brasil for small-scale solar energy investments

The Global Gateway project will contribute to climate action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Solar photovoltaic plants will be installed on homes and on local business premises.

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the world's largest multilateral public bank, and Banco Santander (Brasil), the largest foreign bank in Brazil, have signed an agreement to foster the use of renewable energy in Brazil. Ricardo Mourinho Félix, Vice-President of the EIB, and Carlos Rey de Vicente, Banco Santander's Regional Head for South America, signed a €300 million loan in Brussels on 17 July 2023 during the EU-CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government and the EU-LAC Business Forum.

The project is part of the European Union's Global Gateway investment strategy supporting infrastructure and improving global and regional connectivity in the digital, climate, transport, health, energy and education sectors.

The loan will support the installation of a series of small-scale self-consumption solar photovoltaic plants in Brazil, predominantly on rooftops, for a total combined capacity of around 600 MWp. The plants will be installed on homes and on the premises of small and medium businesses.

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HRVP Blog of 12 January 2023 on the attack on democracy in Brazil

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.

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Council of the EU Statement of 11 January 2023 on attack on democratic institutions

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.

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HRVP Statement of 8 January 2023 on the storming of government quarters in Brazil

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.

HRVP Statement of 31 October 2022 on the presidential elections in Brazil

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.

HRVP Blog of 9 November 2021 on his visit to Brazil

A useful visit to Brazil

09/11/2021 - HR/VP blog - After Peru, I went last week to Brazil, one of the main actors in Latin America. The discussion with Brazilian leaders was principally focused on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and on environmental protection measures. Brazil's recent new commitments, particularly on deforestation, are welcome but need a swift implementation on the ground.

With its 213 million inhabitants, its large and diversified economy - the 12th biggest in GDP - and its gigantic territory, Brazil is a major player in the world today. With the Amazon rainforest, it also holds one of the main keys to the future of biodiversity and the global climate. After 9 years without a high-level visit from the EU, it was high time to come to this pivotal country.

Before summarising the exchanges with the country's main political authorities, I believe it is important to clarify the functioning of Brazilian institutions, especially for the European public, which is often not familiar with these issues. In our public debate, there is a tendency to over-identify Brazil with its President and the government he or she leads. During our visit, the think tankers we met, who are not linked to the current executive, stressed how this approach does not reflect correctly the multifaceted reality of Brazil.

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EEAS Statement of 5 November 2021 on strategic partnership and deeper cooperation

Brazil: High Representative Josep Borrell in talks about strategic partnership and deeper cooperation

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell visited Brazil from 3 to 5 November and held a number of high level meetings there, including with the President of the Federal Brazilian Republic Jair Bolsonaro, Vice President Hamilton Mourão, Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Alberto França, Environment Minister Eduardo Leite, as well as with Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco.

In his meetings, the High Representative reaffirmed the importance of the long-standing EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership: "Our relations with Brazil are strong and comprehensive. There is untapped potential to do more together, and we will explore concrete ways to widen our cooperation at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level," he said. (see press remarks here)

With Foreign Minister França, the High Representative addressed economic and trade issues, including the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, Brazil's ambition to join the OECD, climate and environmental challenges, post-corona recovery and foreign policy issues such as the situation in Venezuela, Afghanistan and Mozambique.

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EEAS Press Statement of 5 November 2021 on HRVP meeting MFA of Brazil

Brazil: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell after meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Alberto Franco França

Good morning, buenos días, bom dia,

Señor ministro [de Asuntos Exteriores de Brasil, Carlos Alberto Franco França], señor secretario general [de Relaciones Exteriores, Fernando Simas Magalhães], thank you very much for your warm welcome. Thank you to the Minister and also to the whole team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - and in particular to the Secretary General [of Foreign Affairs] Mr [Fernando Simas] Magalhães.

Last time that a High Representative of the European Union came to Brazil was nine years ago. Too long. Way too long. Nine years without a high-level visit at the diplomatic level shows that we, Europeans, have not been taking care enough of the importance that Brazil has as a big geopolitical player.

I am very happy to be here. I was here fifteen years ago as President of the European Parliament and now I am coming back in my capacity of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and I came to reaffirm the strategic importance that we, in the European Union, attach to our relations with Latin America in general and with Brazil in particular.

Brazil is a strategic partner for the European Union. Why so? In fact, we have been long strategic partners since 2007 across all political areas. We are Brazil's second largest trading partner. Brazil is actually the single biggest exporter of agricultural and food products to the European Union. We are the biggest investor in Brazil. And Brazil is the largest and most important market for the European Union in Latin America.

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EEAS Statement of 29 October 2021 - HR/VP Borrell travels to Peru and Brazil

Latin America: HR/VP Borrell travels to Peru and Brazil

High Representative/Vice President (HR/VP) Josep Borrell will travel to Latin American for the first time during his mandate next week, starting with Peru on 1 November. The aim of the visit is to strengthen both bilateral relations as well as regional cooperation.

In Peru, the HR/VP will meet with the President of the Republic, Pedro Castillo. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Óscar Maúrtua and with the President of the Congress of the Republic, María del Carmen Alva, as well as with civil society. Whilst in Peru, the HR/VP will also visit an EU-funded project on women empowerment.

On Wednesday, the HR/VP will travel to Brazil, where on 3 November he is due to meet representatives from the private sector in Sao Paulo. On 4 November, he will have meetings with Foreign Minister Carlo Alberto Franco França in Brasilia, as well as with Minister of Defence Braga Netto and Senate President Rodrigo Pachecho. He also plans to meet other government representatives and of think tanks. HR/VP will also visit EU-funded projects supporting women empowerment, as well as the UNHCR welcome centre for Venezuelan Refugees in Brasilia.

The EU is a major political, trade and investment partner for countries in Latin America and HR/VP Borrell aims to further boost these relations in the coming years.

EEAS Statement of 18 December 2020 on the VII EU-Brazil High-Level Political Dialogue

VII EU-Brazil High-Level Political Dialogue

The VII Meeting of the High Level Political Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Brazil took place on 18th December 2020, by videoconference, in the framework of the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership.

The two Delegations had a very open and fruitful exchange on a wide range of subjects, including the state of play of bilateral relations, defence, trade policy, environmental and security matters, as well as on regional and multilateral affairs.

They exchanged views on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to continue the bilateral dialogue and cooperation on the ongoing sanitary crisis, as well as on the economic and social recovery process in both regions.