European Parliament makes mission to Brazil to strengthen relations between the European Union and Mercosur
As first appointment as acting presidentas a result of the Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) meets this Wednesday (6) the ambassador of the European Union in Brazil, Marian Schuegraf. The meeting takes place in annex 2 of Palácio do Planalto, at 5pm.
Schuegraf has been the European Union’s top diplomat in Brasiliawith an active voice in defending sustainable partnerships and facilitating a trade agreement between Mercosur and the EU.
Along with Schuegraf, the following delegation members participated in the meeting:
- Hélder Sousa Silva: European People’s Party (EPP), Austria.
- Michele Picaro: European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Italy.
- Urmas Paet: Renew Estonia – Permanent Rapporteur for Brazil at the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET).
- Gabriel Mato: European People’s Party (EPP), Spain – Permanent Rapporteur for Mercosur at the International Trade Commission (INTA).
- Jacek Protas: European People’s Party (EPP), Poland.
- Evelyn Regner: Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria.
- Nicolás González Casares: Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Spain.
- Elio Di Rupo: Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Belgium.
- Valérie Deloge: Patriots for Europe (PfE), France.
Alongside Alckmin, the following participate:
- Philip Gough: Ambassador and Secretary of Economic and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Foreign Ministry.
- Daniel Girardo de Brito: Advisor to the Diplomatic Directorate of the Vice-Presidency of the Republic.
- Daniela Matos: deputy secretary of the Foreign Trade Secretariat (MDIC)
European Union Mission in Brazil
Ten members of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Brazil (D-BR) hold an agenda in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro between May 6th and 8thwhen they meet with the acting president, members of the government, parliamentarians, businesspeople and representatives of civil society
According to the European External Action Service (EEAS), the visit aims to strengthen ties between the EU and Brazilwith emphasis on the trade relations and multilateralism. The European Parliament delegation arrives in the country a week after the provisional application of the trade agreement with Mercosur countries, already ratified by Brazil.
Main subjects
The agenda that begins with the meeting with Alckmin has as its main subject the partnership between Mercosur and the European Union, as Schuegraf has recently warned about delays in implementing the agreement due to judicialization processes and resistance in some European parliaments.
With Alckmin, who is also Minister of Development and Industry, the objective is resolve technical problems and reinforce Brazil’s commitment to environmental clauses. Also on the agenda will be global advances in the fight against climate changebased on the results of COP 30 in 2025, as well as the Brazil’s role in forums such as the G20 and the BRICS group.
The meeting between the acting president and the European Union ambassador takes place at a strategic moment: while Lula seeks rapprochement with the US, Alckmin works to ensure that Brazil does not lose focus on the EUBrazil’s second largest trading partner.
*With information from EEAS
