The EU-Brazil Round Table

Over the past two decades, Brazil has emerged as one of the Latin American countries with the most vibrant and impactful relationship with the EESC, characterized by regular, constructive exchanges that underscore Brazil's strategic significance in the region.

The EESC's primary counterpart in Brazil was historically the Economic and Social Development Council (CDES), established in 2003 under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, drawing inspiration from the European model of civil society dialogue. This partnership deepened with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the EESC and the CDES in 2003, setting the foundation for the EU-Brazil Round Table. As bilateral relations expanded, the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership was established in 2007, enabling the creation of the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table in 2009. This platform facilitated dialogue and cooperation between civil society representatives from both regions, meeting eight times and co-chaired by the EESC President and the head of the CDES. However, the dissolution of the CDES in 2019 led to a temporary suspension of regular collaboration.

Despite this interruption, Brazil has remained a pivotal Strategic Partner for the EU. In March 2023, President Lula da Silva revitalized Brazil's civil society engagement by establishing the Sustainable Economic and Social Development Council of Brazil (CDESS). This new council, comprising 243 members, is even more inclusive, advising on critical issues such as democracy, poverty reduction, energy transition, technological strategy, climate change, and sustainable development.

The CDESS's creation reinvigorated civil society dialogue with the EESC. In April 2024, an EESC delegation, led by its President Oliver Röpke, visited Brasília to renew this partnership. During the visit, President Röpke and Minister Alexandre Padilha signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration on shared priorities such as environmental sustainability, economic development, and social justice.

To implement this MoU and strengthen the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, the EESC re-established the European side of the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table in 2024. This revitalized structure comprises 12 members from each side and is co-chaired by the Presidents of both institutions. Together, they aim to tackle pressing global and bilateral challenges, ensuring that civil society continues to play a crucial role in shaping the EU-Brazil dialogue.