The 2nd EU-Brazil Summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on 22 December. It will mark a new stage in EU-Brazil relations. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will lead the Brazilian delegation representing the South-American country, while the EU will be represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Council of the European Union, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. The launch of the strategic partnership in July 2007 at the 1st EU-Brazil Summit, under the Portuguese Presidency, laid the foundations for closer relations. The next summit will help to define the content and the priorities which will be reflected in a joint action plan that is currently under negotiation and in a statement of the Heads of State. This document will include a series of specific commitments in the following fields: security, sustainable development, regional cooperation, research and new technologies, migration, education and culture. On the agenda there are also regional issues of common interest to the EU and Brazil and major global challenges such as the world economic and financial crisis, combating climate change and energy security. The EU is Brazil’s leading trade partner and represents 22.5% of Brazil’s total trade.” ” ” “
