DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF
SPAIN
(Madrid, 19 November 2012)
1. On 19 November 2012, the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Mrs
Dilma Rousseff, and the President of the Government of Spain, Mr Mariano
Rajoy Brey, met for a work meeting in Madrid. Also in attendance at the meeting
on behalf of Brazil were the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Education, Science and
Technology, and Communication, together with their Spanish counterparts.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
2. The two Presidents highlighted the importance of relations between Spain and
Brazil, which are based on both historic and cultural ties and on common values
and interests that unite the two countries. Since the Strategic Partnership Action
Plan was adopted in November 2003, and subsequently strengthened by the
Brasilia Declaration on the Consolidation of the Strategic Partnership in 2005,
bilateral relations between Spain and Brazil have been enhanced and reflected in
a solid agenda of political, economic, cultural, social, educational, scientific and
technological cooperation.
3. In order to strengthen dialogue and coordination between the two
governments, the two Presidents agreed to continue maintaining contact as
often as deemed necessary. In addition, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Brazil and
the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain will assume
responsibility for fostering political dialogue between the two parties through a
Spain-Brazil Ministerial Committee on Political Dialogue.
4. Said Committee will be chaired by the two Ministers and will meet every two
years in each country on an alternating basis. On those years in which the
Committee does not meet, the Secretary-General or Political Undersecretary for
Foreign Affairs of Brazil and the State Secretary for International Cooperation
and Ibero-America of Spain will be required to chair a Political Consultation
Meeting to comply with the decisions made by the Ministerial Committee and to
prepare the next meeting of the Committee. The two Ministries will also
promote regular meetings at a Head of Department level to assess and discuss
specific issues of common interest.
5. It will be possible to call ad-hoc technical meetings on topics of common
interest should such a meeting be considered relevant and appropriate. These
meetings may be attended by various ministries or other governmental bodies
from both countries. Should it be deemed appropriate, the Foreign Affairs
Ministers may include Deputy Ministers or State Secretaries from other
ministerial bodies responsible for specific issues on the Committee on Political
Dialogue.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
6. Brazil and Spain highlight the inter-dependent nature of the economies of the
two countries. In terms of the accumulated volume of direct investment, Spain is
the second-largest foreign investor in Brazil and Spanish companies continue to
increase their operations within the Brazilian economy. The two leaders
recognised that the presence of investment by Brazilian companies in Spain
remains at a modest level and they committed to seeking ways to increase that
investment. Spain invites Brazilian companies to consider Spain as a privileged
base from which to operate in the markets of Europe, the Mediterranean and
Africa. The two Governments encourage business leaders in both countries to
seek areas in which to cooperate, both in terms of their respective markets and
those in third party countries. Special attention will be placed on the investment
and trade activity of SMEs.
7. Brazil and Spain agree on the strategic importance of developing transport
infrastructure, particularly by means of concessions. For that reason, they agree
to increase collaboration between the two countries in this area. They also
recognised an interest in collaboration between Spanish shipyards and Brazilian
operators for increasing partnerships, fostering support and expanding
technology transfer in the construction and repair of ships for supply to oil
drilling platforms.
8. The two leaders welcome the increase in bilateral trade exchanges but agreed
that the current situation does not reflect the potential of the two countries and
that there is still plenty of room to increase and diversify trade flows.
9. In order to study the specific possibilities for cooperation in terms of economic
affairs, they agreed to draft a new agenda for the Working Groups on Investment
and Trade and on Infrastructures and Transport, which will need to meet during
the course of 2013.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
10. Both governments agree that development will increasingly depend on the
capacity to develop new scientific-technical knowledge and innovate, both at a
national level, and regionally and globally. In this regard, they reaffirm their
commitment to broadening their activity in the fields of science, technology and
innovation (STI) and to increase their economic and social impact by further
developing bilateral cooperation in these areas.
11. The two parties have agreed to step up the exchange of researchers and
technologists, simplify access to research infrastructures, increase mutual
cooperation on research and development (R&D) activities with a strong focus
on knowledge and innovation, improve the exchange of scientific information
and the establishment of direct contact between both private and public
scientific and technological research institutions in both countries.
12. Both parties welcome the willingness of the Science, Technology and
Innovation Ministry of Brazil (MCTI) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and
Competition of Spain (MINECO) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on
cooperation in nano-technology and nano-science, which would promote the
undertaking of joint projects, a drive towards the creation of joint networks and
support for the technological and industrial development of both countries in
these areas, including the promotion of cooperation within the scope of the
“International Iberian Laboratory for Nanotechnology (INL)”, a SpanishPortuguese initiative located in Braga, Portugal.
13. Both parties acknowledge the great potential for joint bilateral action in the
field of innovation, with projects that could enable partnerships between
technology-based companies in Brazil and Spain for the development of new
products and processes in the two countries supported by the experience
acquired in those areas. Hence, they highlight the considerable potential for
cooperation in such areas as convergence on government policies, programmes
and actions to stimulate corporate R&D and innovation; cooperation between
technology parks; technological and industrial innovation; mechanisms for
support to technology-based companies in their various stages of development;
and especially support for innovation within small- and medium-sized
enterprises. Furthermore, they also underline the importance of increasing
cooperation between the “Studies and Projects Finance Organisation” of Brazil
(FINEP) and the Centre for Technological Industrial Development of Spain (CDTI).
14. The two leaders agree on the significant potential for bilateral scientific and
technological cooperation in the field of sustainable management for hydraulic,
aquaculture and fishing resources. As regards the former, the Brazilian
Government is particularly interested in applying technologies developed in
Spanish cities for the universalisation of basic sanitation and the treatment of
urban waste water. As regards the latter, they express their willingness to launch
studies aimed at fostering bilateral cooperation with a view to providing
reciprocal support for the respective national science and technology
programmes in the field of sustainable fishing and aquaculture.
15. In order to further develop bilateral cooperation, the two governments must
encourage inter-institutional dialogue and an exchange of perspectives between
the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry of Brazil and the State
Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation of the Ministry of
Economic Affairs and Competition of Spain. The two Presidents agreed to start
holding meetings of the Mixed Committee on Cooperation, Technology and
Innovation during the first half of 2013 in accordance with the Basic Agreement
on Technical, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
16. At its first meeting, the Mixed Committee will be required to identify the
areas in which there is potential for bilateral cooperation and the development
of joint projects. Particular attention will be paid to the areas of a) information
and communication technologies (ICT); b) nano-technology and nano-medicine;
c) biotechnology; d) technology parks and creative industries; e) the naval,
aeronautical and aerospace sectors; f) renewable energies; g) healthcare
technologies; h) agri-food; and i) programmes, policies, processes and
institutions to promote innovation.
BORDERLESS SCIENCE
17. The two Presidents express their satisfaction with the excellent development
of the “Borderless Science” programme for Brazilian grant-recipient students
studying technical degrees under the framework of the agreement signed in
February 2012 between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain
and the National Centre for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
The application of this agreement began during the 2012-2013 academic year
with participation by 1,487 Brazilian students and 42 Spanish universities.
Particularly important was the teaching of Spanish language skills to improve
participation by the grant recipients on the courses studied in Spain, an area in
which collaboration has been provided by the Cervantes Institute. They also
recognised the importance of enabling the private sector to associate itself with
the Borderless Science Programme by making a contribution to the provision of
work experience opportunities, for example.
ENERGY
18. The two Governments agreed to increase their cooperation in the energy
sector, especially in the renewable energies sector, where a sizeable component
concerns R&D and innovation, such as wind power, solar thermal power,
photovoltaic power and modern bio-energy. The aim of such cooperation is to
guarantee energy supply security at reduced levels of CO2 emissions.
IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS
19. The two Presidents welcome the fruitful dialogue and collaboration achieved
in terms of immigration affairs, which has produced a noticeable improvement in
regard to the entry of citizens into Spain and Brazil. Both governments are
committed to maintaining their cooperation on facilitating residency and the
wellbeing of their respective citizens who live as expatriates in territory
belonging to the other party.
20. They agree to continue the High-Level Consular Meetings to discuss all
consular affairs of interest to both parties, such as legal cooperation, consular
assistance to inmates, the situation of their respective citizens who are released
on bail and the transfer of convicted individuals, as well as cooperation on
immigration affairs.
21. The two leaders recognise the benefits of exchanging professionals and
consider it important to begin talks with a view to studying mechanisms that
could facilitate the mobility of professionals between the two countries.
DEFENCE
22. Brazil and Spain will foster collaboration between their respective Ministries
of Defence and between the armed forces of both countries. In this regard, they
agree to establish a bilateral Working Group on industrial cooperation for
defence that will be chaired by the State Secretary of Defence (SEDEF) of Spain
and the Secretary for Defence Products (SEPROD) of Brazil.
TRILATERAL COOPERATION
24. Brazil and Spain reiterate their commitment to the construction of a more
prosperous world with more solidarity among its inhabitants and to the
promotion of development and wellbeing for their respective societies, mainly
through cooperation on policies aimed at creating jobs and increasing the labour
market. Based on the success of their cooperation initiatives in Latin America,
Brazil and Spain are committed to studying new forms of trilateral cooperation in
the region and extending the geographical space thereof to such areas as
southern and sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti.
CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION
25. “The two Presidents welcome the full entry into force of the Agreement
between the Kingdom of Spain and the Federal Republic of Brazil that governs
the Creation and Operation of Cultural Centres, signed on 17 September 2007,
that will have a highly positive effect on the promotion and spread of the
language and culture of both countries. In this regard, both parties welcome the
progress made on incorporating the Spanish language into the Brazilian
education system”.
OTHER MATTERS OF BILATERAL COOPERATION
26. Brazil and Spain will collaborate in the sectors of agriculture and the
environment. This includes cooperation in the areas of sanitation and
phytosanitation, irrigation, drainage and management of hydraulic resources,
livestock traceability, management of natural parks, training activity,
cooperatives and agricultural professionalisation, environmental policing, forest
fire prevention and response, waste water treatment and solid urban waste
treatment.
27. Spain reported on the creation of the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation as an
instrument within Spanish civil society aimed at promoting relations between the
two countries. One of the main activities carried out by the Foundation will be
the organisation of bilateral meetings between civil society in Spain and Brazil.
Such meetings will be held at various intervals and on an alternate basis in Spain
and Brazil. Spain proposes the organisation of a 1st Spain-Brazil Forum in 2013.
28. Brazil and Spain are committed to cooperating on the resolution of problems
that affect cities. To that end, they will support the organisation of Municipal
Forums and other meetings between municipal and local authorities aimed at
exchanging experiences and best practices in the areas of urban infrastructure,
security, the environment, culture and public administration. Brazil and Spain will
especially cooperate on the exchange of experiences and best practices with
regard to urban sustainability focused on urban mobility, healthcare service
provision, the universalisation of basic quality education, the treatment of solid
waste, sanitation and water quality, among other issues.
29. The two leaders express common support for the Decade of Action on Road
Safety 2011-2020. The President of Brazil informed her Spanish counterpart
about the measures adopted to protect lives and reduce traffic accidents in
Brazil, including the development of an extensive awareness campaign with the
International Automobile Federation (FIA).
30. Both countries are committed to cooperating, within their respective legal
frameworks, in the area of public security and the fight against organised crime.
Permanent dialogue will be maintained between their institutional public
security structures. Spain is providing support to the training of Brazilian law
enforcement agencies for security at large events due to the commitments that
Brazil will soon be assuming.
31. Brazil and Spain will collaborate on fostering tourism activities and will adopt,
based on their respective legislations and especially the EU-Brazil Agreement on
visa waivers for holders of ordinary passports, of 8 November 2010, measures
that are aimed at facilitating the entry and stay of tourists in their respective
territories.
32. Both governments will speed up the processing of paperwork for the entry
into force of the Complementary Review Agreement to the Agreement on Social
Security of 1991 (amended by the Complementary Agreement of 14/05/2002),
that was signed on 24 July 2012. They agree to hold bilateral meetings for the
negotiation of formulas to apply this Complementary Agreement.
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
33. Brazil and Spain also agree to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in terms
of Ibero-America. They highlight the importance of the regional integration
processes taking place within the framework of such institutions as MERCOSUR,
UNASUR and CELAC. Both parties welcome the results obtained from the 22 nd
Ibero-American Summit and are committed to actively taking part in achieving
the objectives contained in the Declaration approved at said Summit and in
renewing the Ibero-American system.
34. EU-CELAC bi-regional dialogue and cooperation comprises an important
element that complements bilateral relations between Brazil and Spain. In this
regard, the two governments will continue to actively support the conclusion of
negotiations on an Inter-Regional Partnership Agreement between MERCOSUR
and the European Union that is balanced, ambitious and beneficial to both
blocks.
35. Both parties agree to further develop dialogue and collaboration in matters
of a global nature, such as peace and security, sustainable development,
economic-trade issues and investment, energy security and food security.
Studies will be carried out on the possibility of promoting joint initiatives on
issues of importance at an international level. Both parties will report to one
another on initiatives that each one promotes in this area. Brazil and Spain will
provide mutual assistance, wherever possible, to their respective candidatures at
international forums and organisations. In this regard, Brazil expresses its
support for Spain’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the United
Nations Security Council.
35(2). Both countries express their commitment to the defence of human rights
around the world. They firmly support the United Nations protection system and
the need to respect both civilian and political rights and economic, social and
cultural rights. Both governments will study joint initiatives at multilateral
forums, especially on the fight against discrimination and gender-based violence
and, in particular, the fight against feminicide, the abolition of the death penalty
and the protection of defenders of human rights.
36. The two Presidents agree on the perception that the transformations
currently under way in international affairs demonstrate an imbalance between
geopolitical and economic realities and the mechanisms for global governance.
Brazil and Spain highlight the creation of the G-20 as an important institutional
step forward that is essential for a more balanced treatment of global economic
and financial affairs.
37. Both parties highlight the importance of international trade as a source of
economic prosperity and call for efforts to be made to combat protectionist
tendencies that may arise during times of economic uncertainty.
38. Brazil and Spain share the conviction that, just as other international
organisations were forced to change so as to be in better positions to face the
challenges of the 21st Century, the United Nations Security Council must also
undergo reform and they express their support for the enlargement of the
Security Council in order to increase its effectiveness and transparency, as well as
its representativeness and legitimacy. Brazil provided a detailed explanation of
its position regarding the reform of the United Nations Security Council and
Spain took note with interest and recognised that it constitutes a priority for
Brazil’s foreign policy. Furthermore and in line with their firm commitment to
multilateralism, Brazil and Spain consider it fundamental that the General
Assembly and the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations be
strengthened.
39. Strictly respecting the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter,
both governments are committed to further developing the promotion of peace
by firmly defending a peaceful resolution of conflict and development, and
reaffirm their willingness to strengthen dialogue with a view to closer
cooperation in the field of peacekeeping operations, underlining a sharing of
knowledge and experiences. They also agree to make a great effort to promote
the multilateral agenda for disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to the
complete elimination of all nuclear arsenals and the achievement of the
objective for a world that is free of all weapons of mass destruction.
40. The Presidents welcome the success of the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development that was held in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June 2012 and
highlighted the approval of the final document entitled “The Future We Want”.
They reaffirmed the importance of Rio+20 for strengthening multilateralism and
of its results as a conceptual basis for a new policy and an action programme for
sustainable development in the 21st Century.
41. The Presidents took note that the conference reaffirmed the international
commitment to sustainable development and the promotion of an economically,
socially and environmentally sustainable future for the planet and for present
and future generations, and recognised that the eradication of poverty is the
greatest challenge facing the world today and is one of the prior requisites for
sustainable development.