The fifth largest country in the world and the biggest economy in Latin America, Brazil is a global player with longstanding historical, cultural, political, and economic ties with the EU and its Member States. The new President, Lula da Silva, and his government’s development agenda are focused on fighting inequalities, eradicating poverty and hunger, and promoting social inclusion. Fight against corruption and improved internal security are also key priorities for the government, together with accession to the OECD.
The EU and Brazil foster a bilateral partnership sharing interests on various topics, such as economy, technology and innovation, environment, and climate action, as well as human rights and security. Dialogue and cooperation are pursued at both bilateral and multilateral level, particularly to face global challenges and uphold common values.
Our partnership
As part of the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU supports Brazil towards a sustainable and inclusive development. The priority areas of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda for Brazil are energy, green transition, and digital connectivity. In addition to that, a multi-country project on electro-mobility and transport is being conducted with Brazilian participation.
The Team Europe Initiative in Brazil, for which the EU closely collaborates with Member States, has two main priorities: the Green Deal and the Digital Transformation. Under the first priority, a Europe-Brazil Initiative on Sustainable Investment and Recovery has been established. It entails two sub-initiatives, one on Sustainable and Smart Cities, focusing on integrated and inclusive urban planning, as well as one on Tropical Forests, the latter with an initial focus on reducing deforestation. The second priority on Digital Transformation will cover industrial and business cooperation, cooperation on market regulation aspects associated to the digital economy and public procurement, academic and scientific cooperation, and cooperation on space technologies and services.
Under the Regional Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 for Latin America and the Caribbean, €70 million have been earmarked for bilateral cooperation with Brazil over the whole period. The identified flagships for this are in line with the Team Europe Initiative priorities.
Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 for Latin America and Caribbean
Our flagship initiatives
- Energy
- Renewable energies: There is a high potential return for investment in the green hydrogen production in Brazil due to abundant renewable energy and supportive government policies, as well as the country’s commitment to decarbonisation of the energy sector through various initiatives. A focus herein lies on financing projects on renewable energy and energy efficiency and the promotion of green hydrogen. Co-financing solar and wind-power infrastructure is also foreseen.
- Green technologies for companies: Green low-carbon technologies for SMEs and companies.
- Green Transition
Brazil has a clear commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection. The EU and other Member States provide support for sustainable development in Brazil through the Amazon Fund. The Brazil Tropical Forests Initiative aims to prevent deforestation and to promote sustainable bioeconomy and traceability of supply chains.
- Digital connectivity
Last kilometre connectivity is key for the digital transition and transformation. The project ‘5G – Private-Public Partnership in Telecommunication’ wants to expand telecoms networks in the Amazon region and improve access to telecom services. It aims to develop universal access to 5G for education, security, and public health services.
- Transport
Construction of port and rail infrastructure to reduce existing infrastructure gaps and connect Brazil and Europe.