Brazil: press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the joint press conference
European External Action Service (EEAS)
19.09.2025
Brasilia, 19 September 2025
EEAS Press Team
Check against delivery!
Thank you, Minister Vieira, for these kind words.
It is my great pleasure to be here in Brasilia for my first visit to Latin America as High Representative of the European Union.
We had very good discussions, and we will continue with those discussions. It is clear that a strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil is broader and stronger than ever.
It ranges from human rights to cyber issues, to disarmament, digital transition and energy. We also had our first ever security and defence dialogue, earlier this month.
We are determined to deepen this engagement and broaden the cooperation, including on internal security and the fight against the organised crime. Climate Action and environmental protection are also high on our Agenda.
These are global issues where Brazil and the European Union can make a real difference working together. Our cooperation is reinforced by the momentum we have with the EU- Mercosur agreement. With tariffs and protectionism on the rise, Brazil and the European Union choose a different path: to trade more and invest more.
European companies account for nearly 40% of the investment stocks in Brazil, ahead of the United States and far ahead of China. The EU-Mercosur agreement will give our relationship an even bigger boost. Together, we are creating the world's largest free trade area. I want to thank Brazil's leadership in bringing negotiations to this point after so many years of effort.
I am also delighted to share that we will be launching an EU-Brazil future Affairs Forum on digital and technology, next year. We will also organize the second edition of the EU-Brazil Investment Forum in early 2026.
And before we go to the UN General Assembly, let me recall that the European Union stands firm for international law and the United Nations Charter. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable.
Brazil has been a steadfast advocate for democracy, international law, multilateralism and a rules-based international order. These core values we are sharing with Brazil make us more than close partners, they make us partners of choice.
Minister Vieira, thank you again for your hospitality, and I look forward to seeing you also in the coming days in New York.
Thank you very much.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-277406
Q&A
Q. [in portuguese] You had as a central topic, one of them, the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur. There is still a lot of optimism, but no one seems to be in conditions to ensure that it will be signed in December. I would like to know what are the main issues, if you can identify them, that won't allow the signature in December? We already have demonstrations called by French farmers next week. Mercosur does not seem too convinced on the agricultural safeguard that the European Union is still studying. What is the last obstacle that you would be able to identify?
I will just add that the European Commission has sent the proposals to the Council, like the Minister said. And of course, we are 27 countries and 27 democracies, which means that, in 27 democracies, you have different groups - that is the discussion that is all about. But you know, these are discussions in the Council, and we hope that there is a result.
Q. [in portuguese] I could not ask about the preparation for the UN General Assembly, since the Brazilian government was subject to restrictions from the US government, which are mainly on the Minister of Health. I would like to know, from Minister Mauro Vieira, how did the government assess this decision? And are you considering doing? If there will be any sort of appeal to the US government, so that there is an exception for Minister Padilha or if you are considering raising the topic to the committee of relations with the hosting country? And even ask for an arbitration from the Secretary General? And I would also like to know, from Representative Kallas, what is the position of the European Union on this type of restriction, which affects not only Brazil but also the delegation of Palestine? If the EU and the countries represented at the UN support future arbitration? How will you position yourselves in the committee that discusses these issues. Thank you.
Yes, when the decision was taken regarding the Palestinian Authority representatives, then the European Union made a statement of 27 countries [which says] that access to the international organisation should be allowed.
Q. [in portuguese] Madam, you have commented earlier about Russia's incursion today in Estonia. You have called it a 'very dangerous provocation'. What will be the response from the European Union beyond the packages of sanctions, like the one that was proposed today, and assuming that such incidents will continue, what are you expecting from countries that are closer to Russia, which is the case of Brazil, and which can also be affect by such sanctions?
It is clear that Russia is testing how far they can go. We had very intensive discussions about the international situation and also regarding Russia's actions, really. And, of course, our plea is also to the countries that have a closer relationship with Russia is to really call them on stopping this. Of course, on our side, we see that we must show no weakness, because weakness is something that that invites Russia to do more, and they are increasingly more dangerous, not only to Ukraine, but also to all the countries around Russia. And therefore, our answer is to have more pressure so that also Russia would want peace and come to the negotiation table to discuss this and restrain itself.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-277407
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