Brazil and Hungary sign memorandums on aid to Christians and defense cooperation

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “During the Brazilian President’s visit to Hungary, Memoranda of Understanding were signed on Water Resources Management and Sanitation, Humanitarian Aid to Persecuted Christians and Defense Cooperation,” the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement showing the joint declaration of both countries.

Likewise, both countries reinforced on Thursday, February 17, the commitment to economic and religious freedom.

“Recognizing the climate of mutual sympathy between the two countries, the exchange of fundamental values and the convergence of visions in international relations, the Hungarian and Brazilian representatives reinforced their commitment to the defense of the family, religious freedom, economic freedom, and the sovereignty of nations,” the Foreign Ministry added.

President Jair Bolsonaro met this Thursday in Budapest with his Hungarian counterpart, János Áder, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, marking the first visit of a Brazilian president to the Central European country.

EUROPEAN UNION AND MERCOSUR

The governments of Brazil and Hungary highlighted the advantages of the agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

“The representatives of Brazil and Hungary noted that bilateral convergence bears fruit in bi-regional and international agendas, emphasizing the advantages of the Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union,” the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur was reached in June 2019 after almost two decades of negotiations, but it has to be ratified by all European countries for it to enter into force.

Two months later, France announced that it would not sign the treaty arguing that Brazil does not respect the Amazon rainforest or the Paris Agreement on climate change.

OECD AND SECURITY COUNCIL

The Hungarian government supports Brazil’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

“Hungary, since 2019, has emphatically supported Brazil’s accession efforts to the OECD and wishes much success for its accession process, which started in January 2022. Hungary also supported Brazil’s successful candidacy to the UN Security Council for 2022-2023,” the foreign ministry said in the statement.

Brazil has been a partner with the OECD since the 1990s, and the candidacy to join the group was submitted in 2017.

To join the so-called “club of rich countries,” it will have to make changes in legislation and approve various reforms.

EMBRAER MILITARY AIRCRAFT

The governments of Brazil and Hungary celebrated Thursday the acquisition of Embraer military aircraft, which contributed to strengthening security in Europe.

“The leaders of both countries celebrated Hungary being the first Central European country to acquire Embraer KC-390 military aircraft (…) With the integration of Embraer KC-390s into the Hungarian Air Force, NATO member countries in Central and Eastern Europe acquire unprecedented aerial refueling capabilities, demonstrating how cooperation with Embraer contributes to strengthening security not only in Hungary but in the entire region,” the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced the purchase of two Embraer KC-390 military transport aircraft from Brazil, which will be delivered in 2023.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS

Brazil and Hungary announced that they would launch a joint public call for proposals to finance projects in water management and energy efficiency.

“The Brazilian Industrial Research and Innovation Company (EMBRAPII) and the Hungarian National Office of Research, Development, and Innovation are negotiating the launch of a joint public call for the financing of projects focused on technological solutions in water management, energy efficiency, information and communication, and smart cities,” the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Likewise, both countries considered “the deepening of scientific and technological cooperation equally promising and mutually beneficial”.

They hailed the efforts made in the Brazil-Hungary Joint Economic Commission to strengthen trade exchange and investment flows between the countries.

“The leaders of the two countries rejoiced at the excellence of educational cooperation, highlighting that, since 2017, more than 1,100 Brazilian students have chosen Hungary as a destination for their higher education studies, under the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program. They also hailed the decision of the current Brazilian government to grant scholarships to Hungarian students,” the Foreign Ministry added.