IP/07/1025
Brussels, 5 July 2007
The European Union deepens energy relations
with Brazil
On the occasion of today's visit of Brazilian
President Lula da Silva to the European Commission, Energy Commissioner Andris
Piebalgs and Brazilian Minister of External Relations, Celso Amorim, signed the
terms of reference for the EC-Brazil Regular Energy Policy
Dialogue.
"This document lays the foundations for a fruitful and constructive energy
partnership, based on a permanent dialogue with the Federative Republic of
Brazil", said Commissioner Piebalgs ahead of the signature ceremony.
The Energy dialogue will provide a good basis for strengthening energy
cooperation with Brazil, one of the major players in the world economy that
enjoy a privileged relationship with the European Union. The agreement
recognises the leading role played by Brazil as a stable and reliable partner in
Latin America and its importance in the area of biofuels, security of energy
supply and climate change.
The main objective of this new Energy Dialogue, set up in the context of the
EC-Brazil Framework Agreement for Cooperation of 1995, is to facilitate the
exchange of views between the EU and Brazil in all aspects related to energy
security and sustainability. The agreement also aims to develop bilateral
cooperation in areas of common interest, most notably in biofuels and other
renewable energy sources, low carbon energy technologies, and the improvement of
energy efficiency. Last but not least, it will help both parties work towards
increasing joint international action in the field of energy.
The first meeting of the Energy Dialogue will take place in the autumn of
2007.
|