Olinda
The EU and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1960. The EU and Brazil have close historical, cultural, economic and political ties. The present relationship is governed by the EC-Brazil framework co-operation agreement (1992), EU-Mercosul Framework Co-operation Agreement (1995) and the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation
(2004).
In May 2007 the EU recommended to launch a strategic partnership to further deepen its ties with Brazil ( EU-Brazil: Strategic Partnership proposed). The first ever EU-Brazil Summit was held in Lisbon in July 2007. Central topics of the new partnership include effective multilateralism, climate change, sustainable energy, the fight against poverty, the Mercosur’s integration process and Latin America’s stability and prosperity. This new relationship places Brazil, the Mercosur region and South America high on the EU’s political map.
A total of €61mn is earmarked for Brazil in the Brazil Country Strategy paper 2007-2013
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with the two focal areas: enhance bilateral relations [through sectoral dialogues, scholarship programmes and European Studies Institute] and environment. Trade is another important subject of dialogue, as Brazil is the most important market for the EU in Latin America.