Official visit to Brazil by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso – Joint Declaration 1. The visit to Brazil from 17 to 19 March 2008 of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, represents part of the ongoing process of deepening the Strategic Partnership between Brazil and the European Union, which was formalised at the Lisbon Summit on 4 July 2007.
2. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and President José Manuel Durão Barroso underlined the importance of the historical and cultural ties between Brasil and the countries of the European Union and of the shared heritage of values and ideals in the building of a Strategic Partnership between Brazil and the EU that reflects their combined efforts to meet the major challenges presented by today's world.
3. Both Presidents recalled the principles of democracy and respect for human rights shared by Brazil and the European Union and reiterated the significant role of the United Nations as the main instrument for the defence of international peace and security. They reiterated their commitment to strengthening the multilateral system for the promotion of development accompanied by social justice.
4. The Presidents reviewed the main aspects of Brazilian-EU relations from the political, economic/commercial and scientific/technological points of view. They referred to the importance of the Action Plan for a Strategic Partnership between Brazil and the
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European Union, which will help to orient particular aspects of bilateral cooperation, the aim being to extend and deepen bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest. Both Presidents reaffirmed the intentions of both parties to prioritize issues including energy, sustainable development and climate change, and cooperation on science and technology. They also examined the prospective benefits which the Strategic Partnership between Brazil and the European Union may bring to third countries that show an interest in this type of cooperation through the implementation of triangular cooperation projects.
5. They particularly welcomed the progress made in the field of science and technology, reflected in the setting up in 2007 of the Brazil-EU Steering Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (CDC), which will foster bilateral cooperation in the fields of aerospace biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy, information and communication technologies, health and infrastructure. They also reiterated their interest in stepping up cooperation in the fields of satellite navigation and observation and research into energy from nuclear fusion.
6. The two Presidents referred to the agreements being developed with a view to formalising Sectoral Dialogues on the information society and education and culture. In this context, they recalled the commitment entered into in the 2007 Lisbon Declaration to expand bilateral cooperation on higher education, which involves stepping up exchanges between universities within the framework of the Erasmus Mundus Programme. Both Presidents acknowledged that quality education for all is a key factor in fostering social cohesion.
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7. The Presidents expressed their satisfaction with developments in work on the Sectoral Dialogue on Energy Policy, formalised in 2007, on the occasion of President Lula Da Silva's official visit to the European Commission. In this context they reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation with a view to enhancing energy efficiency and the increasing the share of renewables in the worldwide energy mix. They also referred to the outcome of the International Biofuels Conference organised by the European Commission and held in Brussels in July 2007 and to preparations for the International Biofuels Conference to be held in São Paulo from 17 to 21 November 2008.
8. Both Presidents emphasised the importance of the economic-commercial dimension of relations between Brazil and the European Union. In this context, they welcomed the establishment of the Mechanism for Consultation on Health and Plant Health Issues which is to begin consultation and coordination activities between Brazil and the European Commission in the near future.
9. Recalling that the European Union is the main foreign investor in the Brazilian economy, the two Presidents discussed the possibility of stepping up dialogue on macroeconomic and financial issues. They also examined prospects for cooperation between the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), particularly as regards efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and funding for the Brazilian high-speed train project.
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10. The two Presidents discussed the major bioregional issues that are the subject of the meetings between the Rio Group and the EU and the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summits. They expressed optimism about the outcome of the Fifth European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, scheduled to be held in Lima from 16 to 17 May 2008, on which occasion leaders from the two regions will examine the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion and the issue of sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on climate change and energy. 11. The Presidents said they expected that negotiations in the context of the WTO Doha Development Round could be successfully wound up in the next future. In this context, they recalled the view, common to Brazil and the European Union, that further liberalisation of trade and measures to facilitate investment flows are important elements in the promotion of economic growth and prosperity. Recalling the terms of the Lisbon Declaration, they reaffirmed the idea that the agreement to be reached must be ambitious, comprehensive and balanced if the Round's development aims are to be achieved. 12. The Presidents reiterated their conviction that regional agreements are important complements to the multilateral trading system and reaffirmed their mutual interest in concluding an Association Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. They welcomed the fact that it suited both parties to resume negotiations on the Association Agreement in full at the earliest possible opportunity. 13. Reviewing the main issues on the international agenda, the Presidents reiterated the agreement between Brazil and the European Community on the need to promote multilateralism on the basis of a strengthened UN. They underlined the importance of
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implementing the reform process adopted in 2005 at the UN Summit, including the reform of the main UN bodies as set out in the final document, so as to be able to meet the various challenges facing the international community. 14. The Presidents expressed their satisfaction at this new opportunity to examine together a number of bilateral, interregional and global issues, on which, they noted, was Brazilian and EU views coincided to a large extent. They also drew attention to the frequency of visits by authorities from Brazil and the EU, noting that there had been an extensive exchange of visits by Brazilian Ministers of State and European Commissioners over the last two years. 15. Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and José Manuel Durão Barroso undertook to establish a Strategic Partnership designed to both broaden and dynamise cooperation in the interests of Brazil and the European Union and to promote action to build a more peaceful and just world.
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