About: Brazil

Forest protection likely to be new priority for EU Parliament

Large areas of forest are being cleared worldwide for the agricultural industry. Although the EU requires its contracting partners to protect the environment,  it lacks the means for enforcement. Environmentalists and the European Parliament see an urgent need for action. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Protein discussion likely to be on next European Commission agenda

Fires that consume the Amazon rainforest are often started by farmers who are attempting to meet the growing demand for soybeans. Now, France wants to convince its European partners of the EU's potential role as a leader on the plant protein market. EURACTIV France reports.

U-turn: Bolsonaro open to foreign aid to fight Amazon fires

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is willing to accept foreign aid for fighting fires devastating the Amazon rainforest, but only if the country controls the funds, his spokesman said Tuesday (27 August).

G7 agrees on €18 million plan for forest fires but Brazil refuses aid

On Monday (26 August), the second day of the G7 meeting in Biarritz, France, climate protection was on the agenda. Even though states agreed on a plan to tackle forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil rejected foreign aid. EURACTIV Germany reports

Global appetite for beef, soy fuels Amazon fires

Two of the industries involved in the infernos consuming the Amazon rainforest and drawing the attention of global powers gathered at the G7 meeting in France are familiar to diners worldwide: soy and beef.

As Amazon burns, Brazil’s Bolsonaro tells rest of world not to interfere

Amid growing international criticism over the wildfires raging through the Amazon, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday (22 August) admitted farmers could be illegally setting the rainforest ablaze but told foreign powers not to interfere.

CETA and Mercosur meat quotas expose France’s double standards

While France is challenging the meat quotas provided for in the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, it plans to ratify the EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA), which has been criticised by French beef producers. EURACTIV France reports.

Post-COP24 stocktake praises Katowice rulebook, ‘Cañete’s baby’

In December, international negotiators managed to agree the set of rules needed to “bring the Paris Agreement to life”. But unfinished business and a tight schedule mean that the job of honouring the landmark deal is far from done.

EU says voice of Venezuelan people ‘cannot be ignored’, calls for free and fair election

The European Union said Wednesday (23 January) that the voice of the Venezuelan people "cannot be ignored" and called for "free and credible elections" after the South American country's parliament leader declared himself interim president on Wednesday (23 January).

Brazil and US push for less regulation and lower taxation in Davos

Less regulation and lower taxation rank at the top of their respective political agendas, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo successively told participants at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos (Switzerland) on  Tuesday (22 January).

Far-right Brazil leader targets crime, lashes out against ‘left-wing ideology’

Brazil's new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro declared a crusade against crime, corruption and left-wing ideology as he took office Tuesday (1 January) for a four-year term at the helm of Latin America's biggest nation.

Macron threatens to scupper EU-South America trade deal over climate

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that he will oppose a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur if Brazil’s incoming far-right president pulls his country out of the Paris Agreement.

Brazil scraps plans to host UN climate summit

Brazil’s far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday (28 November) that he pushed the government to withdraw its offer to host the United Nations climate conference next year, maintaining that his country’s sovereignty over the Amazon was at stake.

As Brazil moves right, what is left for Europe in Latin America?

Brazilian foreign policy under new President Jair Bolsonaro won’t focus on cooperation with neighbours in Latin America, so the EU should double down on its flexible approach to Latin America, says Gustavo Müller.

Far-right Bolsonaro rides anti-corruption rage to Brazil presidency

Far-right lawmaker Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday (28 October), promising to clean up politics, shrink the state and crack down on crime, in a dramatic swing away from the left in the world’s fourth-largest democracy.

Destination COP24: Take us to your climate leader

Europe has been one of the driving forces behind the quest to make the Paris Agreement on climate change a reality. But how serious is the EU about the landmark deal and what is Brussels doing in its own backyard to keep global temperature increase ‘well below 2 degrees Celsius’?

EU-Mercosur deal still faces farm and auto hurdles, Brazil says

Negotiators of a free trade deal between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur want to wrap up by September, but differences over beef, sugar and the auto industry could dash those hopes, Brazilian foreign minister Aloysio Nunes said.

Brazilian biofuel producers oppose further deforestation of the Amazon

The Brazilian Senate is considering lifting a ban on sugarcane production for ethanol fuel in the Amazon. The plan, supported by the country's president, has sparked protests from environmentalists and the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA.

Forcing another free trade deal could result in a more divided Europe

As trade officials desperately try to move the long-delayed EU-Mercosur agreement forward this week, we must stop and consider that this deal is likely to go far beyond the balance of trade, and increase economic, social and political divisions within both continents, writes Helmut Scholz.

Farmers renew calls for protection in Mercosur negotiations

European farmers have written to the European Commission to “reject any concessions” on the agricultural chapters of the EU’s free trade negotiations with South American trading bloc Mercosur, which they say would expose farmers to unfair competition.

EU stalls on new Mercosur trade offers, delaying deal

Trade talks between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc will likely extend into next year after European negotiators said they needed more time to respond to improved offers, a source close to Mercosur negotiators said yesterday (12 December).

EU sets duties on certain steel imports, tariff price controversial

The European Union has decided to set duties on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Iran, Russia and Ukraine after a complaint by EU manufacturers that the product used for construction and machinery was being sold at excessively low prices.

Biofuels emerge as burning issue in EU-Mercosur talks

Biofuels have emerged as a make-or-break issue in the EU's negotiations with South American trading bloc Mercosur, and EU farmers fear they will be left to fend off stronger competition in a shrinking market.

Brazil tells the EU ‘it won’t move’ on Mercosur talks without ethanol and beef

Brazil insists that it will not table a new offer as part of the ongoing EU-Mercosur talks until a proposal on beef and ethanol is on the table. EURACTIV Spain reports.