Alongside Lula, the president of the European Commission stated this Friday (15) that the bloc seeks to establish ‘cooperation in joint investment projects in lithium, nickel and rare earths’ with the Brazilian government
The President of the European Commission, stated this Friday (16) that the economic bloc and Brazil are advancing in negotiations to sign “a very important political agreement on raw materials”. The leader of the European legislative body gave a statement with the Chief Executive, (PT), in Rio de Janeiro, where the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur will be signed on Saturday (17).
Regarding the treaty for the exploration of raw materials, the president of the European Commission explained that the negotiates with Brazil the adoption of “cooperation in joint investment projects in lithium, nickel and rare earths” without detailing how the partnership would work. She argued that the agreement is “fundamental to the digital and clean transition”. Without directly citing the protectionist policy adopted by the President of the United States, von der Leyen also stated that a treaty for the exploration of critical minerals is necessary to guarantee “strategic independence” in an international scenario, where inputs are used as “instruments of coercion”.
The president of the European Commission took the opportunity to praise Lula. She said the chief executive “is a leader deeply committed to the values we hold dear.” “Respect for our planet, for our communities and for other countries, this is the leader we need in today’s world,” he said. Von der Leyen stated that “the political leadership, commitment and dedication” that the PT member “demonstrated in recent weeks and months” during the negotiations for the “they are truly unparalleled”.
In her speech, the president of the European Commission recalled that, in 2027, the 20th anniversary of the strategic partnership signed between the EU and Brazil will be celebrated. Given this milestone, von der Leyen declared that the implementation of the treaty “could not be more timely”. “The EU-Mercosur agreement sends a strong message: welcome to the largest market in the world and the largest free trade zone on the planet, this is the power of partnerships, openness, friendship and understanding between peoples and regions below and beyond the seas, this is how we create true prosperity”, he stated.
Von der Leyen also declared that the efforts do not end with the signing of the treaty, but “it will only be a first step”. She stated that “history will only be completed” when the population of the countries involved in the agreement “enjoy the advantages” of free trade.
