The first cooperation agreement held 20 years ago between Brazil and the European Union was celebrated last November 6th, at the University of Brasilia. The event was attended by businessmen, academics, representatives from the Brazilian government and from the European Community, among others.

Brazil was one the first countries with which the European Union established diplomatic relations. Since 1960 the economic, cultural and political relationship between the two sides have been consolidated and Brazil is today one of the EU major partners in the world.

One of the most significant milestones in this process is the Strategic Partnership signed between Brazil and the European Union in 2007. Since then annual summits focusing on global challenges have been held, including those related with human rights, climate challenges, sustainable development and fight against poverty as well as those relating to economic growth, cooperation, foreign policy, among others.

The actions undertaken under the “Sector Dialogues Project” were, particularly, highlighted by several speakers who participated in the event.  João Almino, Brazilian Cooperation Agency Director, highlighted the results obtained with this Project, as well João Gomes Cravinho the European Union Ambassador in Brazil who expressed his optimism for the partnership, stressing that "more than 30 formal dialogues between Brazilian and European authorities have been initiated to address these challenges".

The European Parliament delegation for the relations with Brazil was also presented at the ceremony. This delegation was headed by the euro deputy Paulo Rangel who suggests that “it is by the cooperation through knowledge we can strengthen relations with Brazil”.

CESO leads the Consortium which is implementing the "Sector Dialogues Project" and is also formed by FIIAPP, INA and CEPS.

For more information about this project, please click here

(Photographs - courtesy of Magda Rodrigues and Julio Minasi/UnB Agência)

November 2015