“Portugal can be a major gateway for Brazilian business interests in Europe,” says President Lula during visit to Lisbon

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday, April 21, in Lisbon, that Portugal can take on a strategic role as the main gateway for Brazilian business interests in Europe, driven by the Mercosur–European Union Agreement, which enters into force on May 1. “Portugal can be a major gateway for Brazilian business interests in Europe,” he said during a joint statement with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, as he advocated for deeper economic ties focused on investment and productive integration.

Lula emphasized that the partnership between the two countries should move beyond traditional trade, incorporating stages of production within Portuguese territory. According to him, the goal is to consolidate a relationship based on economic integration and joint development. “It is very important that part of what Brazil will negotiate with the European Union can be built here in Portugal,” he said.

Portugal can be a major gateway for Brazilian business interests in Europe."
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL

The president stressed that the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union creates a favorable environment for expanding investment and diversifying economic relations. According to him, the objective is to establish a logic of cooperation based on shared gains. “International trade only works if you do not want to suffocate your client. The client needs to survive in order to remain your client. And that is what we want: for our relationship with the European Union to be as sophisticated as possible,” he said.

Lula also highlighted the positive moment in bilateral relations, marked by increased mobility of people and stronger historical and cultural ties. “You can be sure that history has prepared a pleasant surprise for us. The surprise is that Portugal and Brazil are experiencing the best moment in their relationship,” he stated.

MULTILATERALISM - Addressing the international context, Lula reaffirmed his defense of multilateralism as a central pillar of Brazilian foreign policy. “Everyone knows that I am a defender of multilateralism. Everyone knows that I am an opponent of unilateralism and protectionism,” he said.

The president also criticized the increase in global conflicts and the difficulty faced by global governance institutions in delivering solutions. “It is not possible that there is no institution capable of trying to mediate, harmonize, and put an end to the number of wars we have in the world today,” he stated.

COOPERATION - Brazil and Portugal also advanced their cooperation agenda in strategic sectors, with emphasis on the aerospace industry, science, technology, and innovation. These areas were identified as priorities for deepening bilateral relations, with a focus on job creation, technological development, and expanding joint productive capacity.

Citing concrete examples of this partnership, President Lula highlighted the presence of Brazilian companies in Portugal. “We can replicate, Prime Minister, several examples such as Embraer here in Portugal. Embraer is the most successful demonstration of a Brazilian company that is here helping to build things in Portugal,” he said.

BRAZILIAN COMMUNITY - The Brazilian presence in Portugal was highlighted as one of the main elements bringing the two countries closer together. The Brazilian community is the largest among foreign residents in the European country, with around 485,000 regularized citizens, according to official Portuguese government data from 2024.

Portugal hosts the second-largest Brazilian community abroad, behind only the United States. Including Brazilians with dual nationality, this number may exceed 700,000 people.

Addressing the topic, President Lula emphasized the role of Brazilians in Portuguese society. “If there is one people who enjoy working and who learn very easily how to do things, you can be sure it is the Brazilian people,” he said.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also highlighted measures adopted to regularize and integrate Brazilian immigrants in the country. “The Government of Portugal has regularized more than 235,000 cases of Brazilian immigrants in Portugal. Today they are regularized, in accordance with the law, and therefore have full citizenship to pursue their dreams and goals,” he said.

COMBATING XENOPHOBIA - Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also addressed the integration process of Brazilians in the country, highlighting the positive nature of their presence. “Brazilians who come to Portugal, who now number more than 500,000, have come to work, to pursue their life projects, and have achieved absolutely exemplary social and economic integration,” he said.

He added that isolated situations do not reflect the overall relationship between the communities. “This does not mean that there may not have been, here or there, isolated disturbances,” he stated.

END OF THE MISSION - The visit to Portugal concludes President Lula’s European tour, which included engagements in Spain and Germany. The agenda was marked by intensified political dialogue, the promotion of investment, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships, as well as the defense of central themes of Brazilian foreign policy, such as democracy, sustainable development, multilateralism, and the reduction of inequalities.