1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, on 13 November received at the Farnesina, the Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, for an intense and fruitful meeting.
2. The two ministers agreed that, within the context of the Brazil-Italy Strategic Partnership, it is important to reinforce not only bilateral relations but also cooperation on the major issues on the international agenda, in the light of a commonality of values and views between the two Countries. Both Countries reaffirmed their commitment towards democracy, the rule of law and the building of just and inclusive societies.
COORDINATING ON POLITICAL ISSUES
3. The talks highlighted the two Countries’ interest for their respective regional contexts and a strong convergence of views on the issues on the global multilateral agenda, in respect of which they both intend to broaden dialogue and coordination, especially through Italy’s presence in the United Nations Security Council this year and Brazil’s presence in the United Nations Human Rights Council during the 2017-2019 three-year period.
4. Among the issues addressed, they undertook to intensify coordination on sustainable development, climate change, human rights, migration, fighting terrorism, gender equality and peacebuilding.
5. Focus was placed on the excellent cooperation within the UNIFIL peace mission, in the light of the role played by the two Countries in preserving the stability of Lebanon, and in all the peace missions carried out under the aegis of the United Nations.
6. Minister Alfano confirmed that Italy looks with favour to the enlargement of the OECD membership, and welcomes the fact that Brazil meets the requirements for beginning the accession process, confirming Italy’s support for Brazil’s aspiration to become a member of the Organisation. Minister Nunes Ferreira expressed the appreciation of the Brazilian Government for Italy’s support.
7. The two Foreign Ministers also tackled other European and Latin American regional matters. They reaffirmed the importance of the Brazil-European Union Strategic Partnership of 2007 and recalled their commitment to the respect of human rights, the principles of democracy and the rule of law. In relation to Venezuela, they affirmed that the institutional, economic and social challenges facing the Country must be met through an inclusive political dialogue. They also agreed on the seriousness of the situation in Venezuela and on the need to re-establish the rule of law and democracy, reaffirming that only real dialogue, conducted in good faith, can lead to overcome the very serious institutional, economic and social problems afflicting the Country.
8. Minister Alfano recalled the upcoming 8th Italy-Latin America Conference next 13 December 2017, and Minister Nunes Ferreira assured a qualified Brazilian representation at the important meeting that bears witness to Italy’s engagement in the Region.
9. Minister Alfano confirmed that Italy is following with utmost attention the developments in the Battisti case through the Brazilian Justice system. Both ministers reiterated their commitment to reinforce bilateral judicial cooperation.
ECONOMY, TRADE AND BILATERAL INVESTMENTS
10. The two ministers emphasised the centrality of economic relations within the context of strategic bilateral relations, also in the light of the common challenges posed by the economic cycle, and remarked the need to fully leverage the complementarity of their respective markets.
11. Aiming for ever-closer integration, the two ministers undertook to concentrate their efforts to favour the prompt and satisfactory completion of the negotiations of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, preferably before the next WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled in December in Buenos Aires.
12. In agreeing on the need to enhance mutual investments and to single out business opportunities in their respective markets, the two ministers made a positive assessment of the recent mission to Italy by the Minister of Planning, Development and Management, Dyogo Oliveira, which highlighted the cooperation opportunities in the infrastructure sector in view of the development plan launched by the Brazilian Government and of the interest of Italian companies in this sector. They agreed to develop a programme of promotional activities to inform Italian companies of the business opportunities offered by the Brazilian market in the current phase of economic recovery.
13. Minister Alfano highlighted the traditional presence of Italian companies in Brazil and confirmed Italy’s tangible interest to actively participate in developing Brazil’s infrastructure through the continuation of projects already in place and the identification of new investment opportunities within the context of the Projeto Crescer and relying on the communication channel established by the Memorandum of Intent on the exchange of information on public tendering procedures signed in November 2015.
14. The two ministers also agreed to give new impulse to the dialogue between the CNI and Confindustria, with a view to promoting a Brazilian-Italian Business Forum within the framework of the Brazil-Italy Cooperation Council.
ENERGY, DEFENCE, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
15. The two ministers analysed the state of bilateral cooperation in the environmental sector and in the efforts to combat climate change, recalling the initiative launched in Marrakech in November 2016, the Biofuture Platform and the organisation in Sao Paulo of the first Biofuture Summit, all of which reaffirm the collective effort made to stimulate markets and technological innovation in favour of biofuels and advanced biomaterials, as an alternative to fossil fuels in the transport, chemical and plastics sector. They also reaffirmed their commitment to promote the implementation of the Biofuture Platform, also by organising a conference on the initiative in Italy in 2018.
16. Recalling the traditional bilateral cooperation in the field of defence, testified by the recent visits of the Italian Army Commander in Brazil and of the Brazilian Navy Commander in Italy, they reaffirmed the mutual benefits and advantages of developing strategic industrial projects and confirmed the intention to tighten cooperation as provided for under the Supplemental Technical Protocol to the Defence Cooperation Agreement relatively to Cooperation in the Aerospace Sector, signed in 2014.
17. The ministers expressed their congratulations for the current technical cooperation projects for the development of third countries and undertook to verify any new opportunity for trilateral cooperation.
18. Minister Nunes Ferreira welcomed the interest shown by Italy in the Regulation of the Internet in Brazil, underscoring the successful bilateral relationship in the field of Internet governance.
COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND COMMUNITIES
19. The two ministers highlighted the recent impulse given to the cooperation between Brazil and Italy in the field of education and emphasised the possibility of enhancing academic exchanges through new cooperation agreements between public and private universities in the two Countries.
20. They expressed satisfaction at the increase in cultural exchanges aimed at nurturing the sharing of experiences and mutual knowledge in educating new generations.
21. The ministers stressed the need to support their respective numerous communities in order to foster their development and integration. In this context, the two ministers expressed their satisfaction at the forthcoming implementation of the Brazil-Italy Agreement on Mutual Recognition for the Conversion of Driving Licenses. The two ministers also acknowledged the opportunity offered by the excellent level of integration reached in their respective communities, both in Italy and in Brazil, in order to further consolidate bilateral relations in the political, cultural, economic and social context.
NEXT ACTIVITIES ENVISAGED
22. In order to concretely follow up on the goals agreed on, in the upcoming months the two ministers undertook to convene the following: the 4th meeting of the Mechanism of Political Consultation; the 7th meeting of the Council for Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation and Development; and the 3rd meeting of the Standing Joint Committee on Science and Technology.
23. Minister Nunes Ferreira thanked Minister Alfano for the welcome extended to him and invited him to visit Brazil in 2018.
