The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, received his Brazilian counterpart,
Carlos Alberto Franco França, in Madrid today. They both welcomed the start-up of the Brazil-Spain Bilateral Commission (Spanish acronym: CBBE) – a flexible mechanism that provides the many bilateral sector forums with a permanent structure.
On the international front, Spain and Brazil maintain their firm commitment to multilateralism, at such forums as the Ibero-American Summits and through the United Nations, where Brazil begins its mandate as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Minister Albares congratulated his Brazilian counterpart on the start of negotiations for Brazil’s future membership of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
At an economic level, Spain maintains full confidence in Brazil’s growth potential, a very important country for our companies thanks to its environment of legal stability and the unquestionable opportunities the country offers.
During the meeting, Minister Albares recalled Spain’s commitment to the health recovery in Ibero-America, under which the commitments to hand over vaccines against COVID-19 and health material are framed. The pandemic also constitutes a good opportunity to step up relations between the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Agência Brasileira de Cooperação [Brazilian Cooperation Agency], particularly in the field of horizontal and triangular cooperation. This cooperation could be extended to the field of culture, with a view to the holding of the bicentenary of the country’s independence and the strong demand for Spanish language teaching in Brazil.
The two ministers reiterated their commitment to the ratification of the Association Agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR. The agreement will draw the two regions that share many values and interests closer together, and promote economic and social growth on both shores of the Atlantic. In this regard, the fight against climate change is a priority. Minister Albares praised the recent announcements made by Brazil within the framework of the COP-26 and indicated Spain’s predisposition to support Brazil in this regard.
Ibero-American day
On Thursday, Minister Albares also made his commitment to Ibero-America clear. In the morning, he held his first meeting with the Ibero-American Secretary-General-elect (SEGIB), Andrés Allamand. They addressed the way to develop enhanced dialogue and to extend cooperation between the two regions in such areas as culture and youth.
Along the same line, José Manuel Albares later held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America, Max Trejo. They reviewed the terms of the Ibero-American Youth Pact, approved in Cartagena de Indias in 2016, and other initiatives that draw Ibero-American youths closer.
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