30st Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the European Union - Foundation Office Brazil
Event Reports
First to speak was the ambassador of the European Union to Brazil, Ana Paula Zacarias. She opened by holding up the original document of accreditation which was issued 30 years ago, thanking Brazil for the many years of an amiable relationship. She said that the two partners had over the years achieved much, and given that both have compatible agendas on the world stage, she said that she was certain that much more was set to come in terms of cooperation and collaboration in the course of the next years. Affirming that the financial crisis in Europa was indeed over, the ambassador pointed out that Europe as a whole is the number one destination for Brazilian students participating in the “Sciencia sem Fronteiras” program, a Brazilian federal program which aims at enabling Brazilian students to study abroad, whereas Brazil is rising in terms of popularity among European students – the numbers are correspondingly on the rise. In closing, the ambassador said that Brazil and Europe can look back to many well succeed endeavors, and that climate change and economic questions are set to mark important issues for the upcoming agenda.
Next to speak was the Brazilian federal deputy Sebastião Bala Rocha. Representing the chamber of deputies, Bala Rocha, who also acted as the president of the Euro-Brazilian friendship group, said that there are many issues on which he would like to see more cooperation between Brazil and Europe. He said that economic questions, environmental questions and the exchange of science and knowledge are essential, and well succeeded areas of the partnership, yet pointed out that there are other areas in which the partnership works well, pointing out that security and infrastructure projects in Brazil are realized with European help. When visiting Europe to see many science and technology programs he said he was deeply impressed and would like to see Europe more engaged in assisting Brazil as the still young country strives for becoming fully developed and able to master cutting edge technology and science. In closing, Bala Rocha said that Brazil and Europe share a commitment to solidarity, peace and the advance of the social good, and that around these core values many more partnership initiative should and could be launched in the future, no matter what the political orientation of the governments on both sides of the Atlantic.
Third to speak was the representative of the Federal Senate of Brazil, Senator Luiz Henrique da Silveira. The senator mentioned the Euro-Brazilian partnership as a best case model of an international relationship, an example for others around the world. He reminded that for Brazil Europe represents one of the most important markets for its products, that Europe and Brazil are both among the biggest direct investors in relation to each other, and that both regions can win even more by strengthening the existing scope of cooperation. He added that besides trade, commerce and the scientific exchange program mentioned by Bala Rocha, more issues could be placed on the common agenda, and that Brazil is ready for talks. In closing he praised the strategic partnership between Brazil and Europe, which he said guarantees the availability of permanent communication channels, and the possibility for Brazil and Europe to debate positions and interest at any time.
Closing the debate was the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation to Brazil, Felix Dane. Launching the latest Book of the Foundation on EU-Brazilian relations, he was very happy to see that the relationship between Brazil and Europe is thus solid and well succeeded. He said that the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brazil has worked for more than twenty years on Euro-Brazilian issues, and the commemoratory event was thus an expression that the foundation was on the right track in relation to the grand agenda. Specifying, Dane said that the foundation has a series of activities which all aim towards the goal of creating a dialogue between Europe and Brazil, and that these activities include specialized publications, several events, think tank debate sessions involving key thinkers and decision makers within the Euro-Brazilian community as well as supporting the European studies centers in academia around Brazil. Thanking all present, Dane closed the event, saying that he is looking forward for many more years of cooperation and partnership.
The publication is here available (only in Portuguese).
