Mikael Ståhl talks about the when, where and how
The annual summit between the EU and Brazil takes place in Stockholm on 6 October. Mikael Ståhl, Brazil Desk Officer at the Americas Department, has had the task of coordinating the political ambitions of the EU and Brazil ahead of the summit.
Photographer: Boris Vasic/MFA
Why is this summit being held?
The EU has regular summits with a number of countries throughout the world, including the United States, Russia, China, India and South Africa. The EU has an annual summit with Brazil within the framework of a strategic partnership.
What will be discussed?
The summit will focus on the two biggest global challenges, and two issues that are top priorities during the Swedish Presidency.
The first issue that will be discussed is the economic and financial crisis, and how the decisions taken at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh are to be followed up. The leaders are also expected to bang the drum for free trade and for a conclusion in the Doha Round, where Brazil and the EU are important actors.
The other major challenge the leaders are to discuss is, of course, climate change and how we can come together to find ways to counter it.
The summit is an opportunity to develop bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the EU and Brazil, and a first opportunity to follow up the Joint Action Plan (JAP) that was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in December 2008 and that contains a number of different areas of cooperation.
Who is taking part in the summit?
The fact that this is a summit means that heads of state and government will be meeting. So it will be Prime Minister Reinfeldt and President Lula, primarily. Commission President Barroso and Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner and Ashton will also be coming.
The Ministers at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will also be taking part - Carl Bildt will be meeting Foreign Minister Amorim of Brazil, and Ewa Björling will be attending the Business Summit. So this is a real high-profile meeting.
Sweden will also be having parallel bilateral talks with Brazil. What will be the focus of these talks?
The bilateral talks between Sweden and Brazil will begin directly after the summit. They will focus on more or less the same issues as will be discussed at the summit with the EU. Reinfeldt and Lula will establish an action plan for a strategic partnership between Sweden and Brazil that further strengthens our good bilateral relations. The action plan will confirm cooperation in a number of policy areas, such as defence, bioenergy, innovation and high technology, sustainable development and education. A new agreement on innovation and high-tech and industrial cooperation will also be concluded.
How does it feel for you, as Brazil Desk Officer, ahead of the summit?
It is extremely exciting, but also very intensive with all the preparations involved in both organising an EU Summit and also giving concrete form to a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement. Brazil has skilled and competent diplomats, and it is very enjoyable working with them. Our Embassy is doing a tremendous job, and I have good support from other colleagues here in Sweden.
The very matter of developing bilateral cooperation has been incredibly informative and rewarding. Things really got going after Brazil's state visit in 2007, and our bilateral exchange has been intense ever since. Several government ministers and also the Speaker of the Riksdag and several Riksdag Committees have travelled to Brazil, and we have thus been able to develop a strategic partnership.
