“With Lula at the helm, Brazil re-emerges as a global force,” asserts von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, asserted in a recent interview that Brazil had reclaimed its position as an influential player on the global stage under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

She further expressed that the European Union (EU) is eager to leverage this newfound closeness with Brazil to reinvigorate and amplify the partnership between the two.

Speaking to Folha de S. Paulo, a leading Brazilian newspaper, on Sunday (June 11), Von der Leyen expressed her views ahead of her meeting with President Lula in Brasilia the following day.

The European Commission’s President strongly advocated for the environmental initiatives led by the Brazilian President and urged the Brazilian government to continue its efforts in preserving the Amazon and safeguarding the indigenous communities residing therein.

In her words, “Indigenous populations are central to the conservation and sustainable utilization of the forest, and they are instrumental in Brazil’s transformation into an eco-powerhouse.”

Regarding the EU’s agreement with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, Von der Leyen, she expressed optimism that the accord would facilitate addressing shared issues such as climate action and labor rights across the two regions.

However, earlier on May 11, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vira had characterized the EU as “very protectionist,” underlining the complexities in agreeing.

In the same interview, Von der Leyen also addressed a range of other important matters:

• China: “The EU aspires to maintain constructive, balanced, and steady relations with Beijing. We are mitigating risks, not seeking dissociation.”
• Dependence on Russian Gas: “We have taken appropriate measures. We have diversified with dependable suppliers such as Norway and, most significantly, we have slashed our gas demand by nearly 20%.”
• Regulation of Big Tech Companies: “We have implemented [in the EU] clear and stringent regulations governing platform activities, with high standards for their responsibility concerning illegal content and disinformation.”

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