A+ A-

EU-Brazil summit to discuss situation in Middle East, North Africa

The President of the EU Herman van Rompuy
The President of the EU Herman van Rompuy
BRUSSELS, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- The European Union and Brazil will hold their sixth summit in Brasilia on January 24 to reinforce their strategic partnership which was established in 2007 among other international issues.
According to an EU statement, the summit will discuss wide range of topics: international peace and security, including disarmament and non-proliferation, the international financial and economic situation, international trade and the Doha Development Agenda, climate change.
Leaders will also exchange views on the political situation in the Middle East, in North Africa and in Western Africa.
"The EU and Brazil are close partners and share a profound commitment to democratic values, effective multilateralism, and the rule of law. Together, the EU and Brazil can be a force for good in the international community, "commented the President of the EU Herman van Rompuy.
EU exports to Brazil in 2011 amounted to 35.7 billion euro and imports to 38.9 bn.
Meanwhile, EU leaders will travel to Santiago, Chile, on 26-27 January for a separate summit with their counterparts from Community of Latin America and Caribbean States.
The summit will focus on economic, social and environmental dimensions of the bi-regional partnership, and will give new impetus to cooperation and the building of common positions on global issues and shared challenges, noted a separate EU statement.
"Our longstanding partnership with Latin American and Caribbean countries is based on the conviction that both sides have common interests in today's inter-dependent world and greatly benefit from working together," said the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
The EU will be represented at both summits by Van Rompuy and Barroso. (end) nk.nfm KUNA 191059 Jan 13NNNN