Notícias
PRESS RELEASE N.55
Meeting of the Brazil-Spain Ministerial Political Dialogue Commission
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Alberto Franco França, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Arancha González Laya, co-chaired the meeting of the Ministerial Political Dialogue Commission, at the Itamaraty Palace, on May 7.
Brazil and Spain established a Strategic Partnership in 2003, based on shared values and a wide range of common interests. The discussions focused on the challenge faced by the two countries in resuming economic growth through job creation, as well as on joint efforts in the fight against the pandemic.
The intense economic and trade relations offer a solid basis for the search for new synergies and opportunities for mutual economic recovery. Spain is the second-largest issuer of direct investments in Brazil, with a stock of $79.1 billion, invested in the financial, information and communications, electricity, and gas sectors. Spain is the eighth- largest destination for Brazilian exports, which totaled more than $ 4.05 billion in 2020.
The two ministers shared experiences of their countries in reducing the severity of the socioeconomic effects of the prolonged health crisis - such as the measures implemented to support the most vulnerable groups.
Minister Carlos Alberto Franco França thanked the Spanish government for donating intubation medicines to Brazilian hospitals and reiterated the disposition to work in a coordinated manner with Spain for the timely distribution and promotion of safe, effective and accessible vaccines.
During the meeting, they also reviewed the prospects of sectoral dialogues of the Strategic Partnership, with emphasis on the economic and commercial, science and technology, and cooperation fields. Furthermore, they discussed the strengthening of technical cooperation initiatives between the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development.
The Brazil-Spain Bilateral Permanent Commission was established with the aim of giving organicity to the dense bilateral relationship and ensuring a prompt adoption of the undertaken commitments in a broad thematic spectrum. The Permanent Commission will prepare a “road map” with priority goals and initiatives for sectoral dialogues.
Brazil and Spain renewed their commitment to sign and ratify the Mercosur-European Union Agreement, an instrument that will bring dynamism, transparency, predictability and legal certainty to the business environment between the two blocs.
Spain reiterated its support for Brazil's entry into the OECD. The Brazilian accession will bring benefits to bilateral trade and to Spanish investments in Brazil, by improving the economic environment, increasing predictability and convergence in areas such as taxation and capital flows.
During the meeting, the following instruments were signed: Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Permanent Bilateral Commission and Memorandum of Understanding on Sports Cooperation.
Minister Arancha González was welcomed by the President at a hearing on May 6. She also held meetings with the Minister of Regional Development, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, the Minister of Economy, and the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense of the Federal Senate.