Brazil-Sweden Strategic Partnership New Action Plan – Stockholm, October 19, 2015

The Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil

and

the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden,

Considering the solid ties of friendship between Brazil and Sweden;

Reaffirming the importance both countries attach to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law;

Stressing their readiness to act in a coordinated manner in the hopes of strengthening multilateralism, the preservation of peace and international security, disarmament and non-proliferation, the promotion of respect for human rights and social justice, sustainable development and environmental preservation;

Reaffirming an interest in furthering the bilateral strategic partnership in the light of the Strategic Partnership Action Plan adopted on 6 October 2009, in particular in the fields of trade and investment; defence; science, technology and innovation; sustainable energy; climate change and sustainable development; and cultural exchange, to the benefit of the Brazilian and Swedish societies;

Recalling the Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technological Cooperation signed on 3 April 1984; the Memorandum of Understanding on Bioenergy Cooperation, including Biofuels signed on 11 September 2007; the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Innovative High Technological Industrial Cooperation signed on 6 October 2009; the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism signed on 6 October 2009; the Memorandum of Understanding on Partnership and Dialogue on Global Development signed on 29 August 2012; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Fields of Environmental Protection, Climate Change and Sustainable Development signed on 18 November 2013; the Framework Agreement for Defence Cooperation signed on 3 April 2014; and the Agreement on the Exchange and Protection of Classified Information signed on 3 April 2014;

Have decided to further advance the bilateral ties by adopting the following New Action Plan for the Strategic Partnership Brazil-Sweden.

I – Regular political dialogue

Brazil and Sweden reassert their mutual intent to hold a continuous and regular political dialogue in order to develop and identify opportunities for closer cooperation and joint action in the international arena. In this regard, both sides express their commitment to the continuation of the bilateral political consultations within the scope of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism.

II – Trade and investment

Brazil and Sweden reassert their commitment to expand and diversify bilateral trade, to boost investment flows and enhance the dialogue on global and bilateral economic and commercial issues.

Brazil and Sweden welcome the good results of the Business Council meeting held on the occasion of President Dilma Rousseff's visit to Sweden, on 19 October 2015, with the participation of private and public companies and governmental institutions. Both countries also welcome the success of the relaunching of the Joint Committee on Economic, Industrial and Technological Cooperation, whose first meeting was held in Brasília on 21 May 2015. Both sides acknowledge the importance of the regular convening of Joint Committee and Business Council meetings.

III – Cooperation on defence matters

Brazil and Sweden reaffirm their satisfaction with the bilateral cooperation in defence matters, greatly strengthened by the industrial and technological partnership currently being established on the basis of the Gripen NG project. Both countries recognise the potential for expanding cooperation in this field, and express their commitment to identifying new initiatives of mutual interest.

The High-level Group on Aeronautics, established during the Joint Committee on Economic, Industrial and Technological Cooperation held in Brasília on 21 May 2015, is a sign of the shared ambition to further broaden bilateral cooperation on aeronautics to cover both civilian and military projects. The High-level Group on Aeronautics held its first meeting on the occasion of President Dilma Rousseff's visit to Sweden, on 19 October 2015.

To further strengthen bilateral partnership in defence, both countries have also decided to establish a bilateral political-strategic dialogue mechanism between the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence (‘2+2 Dialogue’), so as to enhance mutual understanding and exchange of views on issues related to international security, in the national, regional and global levels. Both countries have decided to schedule the first meeting of the political-strategic dialogue mechanism in the first half of 2016, with subsequent meetings taking place regularly, alternating between the respective capitals.

IV – Cooperation on science, technology, innovation and education

Both countries stress the opportunities brought about by the increased cooperation on defence matters to further develop joint actions in science, technology and innovation based on the 2009 Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Innovative High Technological Industrial Cooperation, and the 1984 Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technological Cooperation. In order to build closer ties and address issues of mutual interest in the field of innovation, Brazil and Sweden express their commitment to convene the Working Group set out in the aforementioned Additional Protocol.

Both sides reaffirm their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of education as well as encouraging further student exchange. In order to further promote initiatives in this area, Brazil and Sweden have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in the Fields of Research and Higher Education.

Both sides reaffirm their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainable mining. In order to further promote initiatives in this area, Brazil and Sweden have agreed to open negotiations in order to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Sustainable Mining.

V – Sustainable energy

Both countries emphasise the commitment to explore possibilities of joint cooperation in the fields of sustainable energy, with the ambition of accelerating the transition to a clean energy future. The areas of collaboration are renewable energy, including second generation biofuels, transmission and distribution of electricity, smart grids and energy efficiency.

VI – Environment, climate change and sustainable development

Brazil and Sweden reaffirm with satisfaction their bilateral cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change and sustainable development and renew their commitment to further action in this area. Both parties have agreed to develop a Joint Plan of Action under the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Protection, Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

Both sides welcome the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reaffirm their commitment to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, stressing that the High-Level Group on Sustainable Development convened by Sweden with the participation of Brazil will play an important role in raising awareness and promoting concrete actions to that end. Both sides reiterate their determination to respond decisively to the challenge of climate change and to collaborate for the success of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) with the adoption of a fair, ambitious, durable and comprehensive agreement under the UNFCCC that keeps the global average temperature rise well below two degrees. Both sides are also determined to maintain close cooperation in the implementation of the agreement.

VII Cooperation on social security

Both sides reaffirm their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of social security. In order to further promote initiatives in this area, Brazil and Sweden have agreed to open negotiations on a Social Security Agreement at the earliest convenient date.

VIII – Cooperation on cultural exchange

Brazil and Sweden reassert their interest in working towards expanding bilateral cultural exchange based on mutual cultural dissemination in creative areas such as literature.

IX – Implementation

At the regular Political Consultations, Brazil and Sweden will take stock of progress made to implement this New Action Plan for the Strategic Partnership. The two countries may decide to establish additional steering or working groups to monitor the implementation of specific areas of this New Action Plan.

Stockholm, 19 October 2015.