EN · Chamber of Deputies, Jô Moraes, accompanied by MPsEduardo Barbosaand Bruna Furlan, welcomed the European visitors. Paulo Rangeldiscussed the negotiations between the European

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European Parliament2014-2019

Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

11.1.2016

REPORT BY THE CHAIR, PAULO RANGEL,

ON THE VISIT TO BRAZIL

(BELO HORIZONTE AND BRASILIA)

2-6 NOVEMBER 2015

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I INTRODUCTION

A group from the Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR) visited Brazil (Belo Horizonte and Brasilia) from 2 to 6 November 2015.

The group, led by the Chair of the D-BR, Paulo RANGEL MEP (PPE, Portugal), also included the first Vice-Chair of the D-BR, António MARINHO e PINTO MEP (ALDE, Portugal), the second Vice-Chair of the D-BR, Carlos ZORRINHO MEP (S&D, Portugal), Ashley FOX MEP (ECR, UK) and Inês ZUBER MEP (GUE/NGL, Portugal).

II BRASILIA (4-6 November 2015)

1. Interparliamentary meetings

1.1. Meeting with Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Chair of the Foreign Relations and National Defence Committee of the Federal Senate of Brazil

After the traditional greetings had been extended and the group members had introduced themselves, Senators Aloysio Ferreira, Agripino Maia, Flexa Ribeiro, Ana Amélia Lemosand the European representatives exchanged information on the following subjects: the creation of the Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil (D-BR), which was a reflection of Brazil’s growing international importance; a proposal put forward by the MEPs that the Brazilian Congress should create a specialised body as a counterpart to the D-BR, with a view to forging closer bonds with the EP; the prospects for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP 21) and possibilities for EU-Brazil cooperation; concern regarding threats to democracy in some Latin American countries, particularly Venezuela; the changing situation in Cuba; the upcoming Argentinian elections and their repercussions on the EU-Mercosur negotiations; the political situation in Brazil (corruption problems, social unrest, the economic crisis and prospects for the 2018 elections) and Brazil’s readiness to take in a significant number of refugees from the Middle East.

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel, António Marinho e Pinto, Carlos Zorrinho, Ashley Fox and Inês Zuber.

1.2. Meeting with Jô Moraes of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Chair of the Foreign Relations and National Defence Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies

The Chair of the Foreign Relations and National Defence Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Jô Moraes, accompanied by MPs Eduardo Barbosa and Bruna Furlan, welcomed the European visitors.

Paulo Rangel discussed the negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur on concluding the Association Agreement. He also reiterated Parliament’s interest in establishing regular, structured dialogue with a specialised body set up within the Brazilian Congress. The Brazilian MPs expressed concern about the current political environment in Brazil, particularly in Congress, which echoed the country’s problems, and they asked their European counterparts about the migration phenomenon in Europe.

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1.3. Meeting with Senator Roberto Requião of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Chair of the Brazilian Representation to the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) and Co-President of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat)

The meeting with Senator Requião was attended by Ramón Jauregui, the European Co-President of EuroLat, who was also in Brasilia. After the host had welcomed the European representatives, an exchange of views took place on the following subjects: the situation of the EU-Mercosur negotiations on the possible signing of an association agreement between the two regional blocs; the risks of Mercosur’s isolation in light of competition from the growing number of free trade agreements that have already been signed (the Trans-Pacific Partnership) or are in the process of being signed (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – TTIP), and the role of the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur).

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel, Ramón Jauregui (Co-President of EuroLat) António Marinho e Pinto, Carlos Zorrinho, Ashley Fox and Inês Zuber.

1.4. Meeting with Senator Aécio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)

Senator Aécio Neves started by welcoming the MEPs and the Head of the European Union Delegation, Ambassador João Cravinho, whom he congratulated on his recent accreditation with the Brazilian authorities. Regarding the political situation in Brazil, he took the view that the government had lost credibility and that the process of impeaching the president had constitutional legitimacy, and he expressed regret that Brazil had not yet played the genuinely leading role in Mercosur that it ought to be playing. He considered the government’s position on the tragic situation in Venezuela emblematic of this, but nevertheless hoped that it would be possible for the December elections to take place peacefully and transparently. Senator Neves expressed his interest in a possible EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, which would doubtless have been one of his government’s prioritieshad he won the presidential elections. Finally, the Senator praised the role of parliamentary diplomacy.

For his part, Paulo Rangel stressed the need to create a Congress Delegation for EU Relations that would be similar to Parliament’s D-BR.


1.5. Working lunch with Eduardo Barbosa, Chair of the Brazil-EU Parliamentary Friendship Group

Eduardo Barbosa, Chair of the Brazil-EU Parliamentary Friendship Group, invited the European representatives to lunch on Wednesday, 4 November 2015. During the meal, the attendees addressed topics including the future exchange of offers in the context of EU-

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Mercosur negotiations on a possible association agreement and the need to establish regular, structured dialogue between the Brazilian Congress and the EP.

2. Meetings with the Brazilian Government

2.1. Meeting with Nilma Lino Gomes, Minister for Racial Equality, Women and Human Rights

Ms Gomes welcomed the European representatives and explained that her ministry was very new, as it was the result of a merger of the women, racial equality and human rights portfolios. Politicians had made major progress in those areas in recent years by adopting ad hoc public polices throughout the country. The participation of civil society had been essential to these policies. The dominant culture of violence ought to lead gradually to a culture of peace.

As concerned women, she noted that, despite the many difficulties caused by traditional machismo and conservatism, whose advocates remained opposed to women-friendly policies, particularly with regard to abortion, shelters for women, victims of mistreatment and even parliamentary parity, Congress had continued to achieve successes in improving the position of women, thanks to social programmes such as {i>Bolsa Família<i} and {i>Minha Casa, Minha Vida<i}, and to steps to improve women’s education.

Finally, in the area of racial equality, Ms Gomes took the view that there had also been progress towards preventing discrimination by means of the law on quotas regarding access to higher education for black and indigenous people and competitive civil service entrance examinations.

Paulo Rangel spoke.

2.2. Meeting with Fernando Furlan, Secretary of State (Minister for Development, Industry and Foreign Trade)

The Secretary of State set out his views on Brazil’s position in the world and relations with the European Union. His desire to incorporate Brazil into the global economy went beyond trade and foreign direct investment. He stated that it was a promising time for EU-Brazil relations. With regard to EU-Mercosur negotiations on an association agreement, the Brazilian Government had been working to bring to fruition an exchange of market access offers, which was likely to include around 100 000 items (goods, services, investment and government procurement). The offer had already been set out. It took account of the 2013 decision by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and exceeded that of 2004, covering 87 % of possible items. The exchange of offers, which was likely to take place quickly, would not mean the end of the negotiation process. It would enable products still not included to be identified and allow negotiations to continue until the agreement was concluded. Mr Furlan concluded by stating that the breakdown of negotiations in 2004 had created psychological barriers between Mercosur and the EU. However, the situation of the two blocs had changed in the 12 years since then. Uruguay, which would hold the rotating Presidency of Mercosur from 1 January 2016, would spare no efforts to ensure that EU-Mercosur negotiations were concluded successfully.

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel and Ashley Fox.

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2.3. Meeting with Mauro Vieira, Minister for Foreign Relations

Mauro Vieira, accompanied by Fernando Magalhães and João Carlos de Sousa, welcomed the members of the D-BR.

Mr Vieira spoke first about the domestic situation in Brazil and then about EU-Brazil relations. He stated that Brazil had experienced considerable socioeconomic development over the years, as a consequence of effective social inclusion policies in the areas of education, health and housing, and of the adoption of consistent economic and fiscal policies.

In relation to foreign policy, the Brazilian Government observed the following principles: advocating multilateralism, supporting Latin American regional integration and not interfering in the affairs of other countries. Mr Vieira stressed the importance of EU-Brazil relations. He recalled the common values that united the two partners and reiterated the government’s support for an EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, which was a priority for both the government and the private sector. In fact, Brazil had been playing an important role during the negotiations. The four longest-standing Mercosur members – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – were all in favour of the Association Agreement. They were making efforts to ensure that the exchange of offers took place quickly. They knew that 87 % of the possible items were already incorporated and were aware that the European Commission had already expressed some disappointment that a higher percentage (90 %) had not been achieved.


3. Meetings with other bodies

3.1. Meeting with Dr Ricardo Lewandowski, President of the STF (Supremo Tribunal Federal Supreme Federal Court)

Dr Lewandowski started by explaining how the Brazilian legal system worked. The STF had considerable political and constitutional power. That was caused by the highly partisan fragmentation of Congress and also by the government’s problems. Both situations were conducive to STF intervention, which strengthened the judiciary. At times, the STF had needed to take decisions that should fall to the legislature. For example, the STF had ruled on political defections (politicians could not leave their party without resigning their seat), on the rule (in contrast to what happened in the US) prohibiting private companies from financing election campaigns, on equal rights for heterosexual and homosexual couples, and on the demarcation of indigenous lands. The STF also had the option of conducting investigations into members of the government or the legislature accused of corruption. He also spoke about the process of impeaching the Brazilian President, which was started by the Chamber of Deputies. The president would then be suspended for 120 days and the vice-president would take over the presidency. The Senate would become a court, but the STF could rule on the proceedings taking place in the Senate.

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel, António Marinho e Pinto, Carlos Zorrinho and Ashley Fox.

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3.2. Meeting with Rodrigo Rollemberg of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), Governor of the Federal District of Brasilia

During the meeting with Governor Rollemberg, at the Buriti Palace, the visitors discussed the following issues with him: Brazil’s political and economic crisis, the role of Brazil on the international stage, the privileged position of Brasilia (the country’s highest concentration of graduates, 135 diplomatic representations, and so on), the prospects for COP 21 and the future EU-Mercosur Association Agreement.


3.3. Meeting with Brazilian civil society organisations

The members of the working group met with representatives of several Brazilian civil society organisations, namely: Cléber Buzatto of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), Valéria Burity of the FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN), Loussia Penha of the University of Brasilia, Vítor Alencar of the National Association of Defence Centres for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (ANCED), Gustavo Cezario of the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM), Joana Barbosa of the International Centre for Migration Policy and Development (ICMPD) and Fernando Zamban of Caritas Brasil.

Keeping in mind the subject of their speeches, the speakers expressed views on a variety of issues that affect Brazilian society today. Some criticised the growing state interference in the field of civil society (in violation of the Brazilian Constitution) and the failure to respect the rights of indigenous peoples (also enshrined in the Constitution).Others stressed the benefits of cooperation programmes run with EU support (ALFA III, the MT Brasil – Migrações Transfronteiriças programme, and so on). The representatives of the organisations wanted respect for human rights to be included in the future EU-Mercosur Association Agreement

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel, António Marinho e Pinto, Carlos Zorrinho and Inês Zuber. The first two speakers put forward concrete proposals, such as holding a seminar on the issues tackled and the institutionalisation of contacts between European and Brazilian civil societies.

3.4. Meeting at the University of Brasilia to mark twenty years of EU-Brazil cooperation

Speakers: Dr Ivan Camargo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brasilia; Dr Paulo Rangel, Chair of the D-BR; Dr João Almino, Director of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC); Dr João Cravinho, EU Ambassador to Brazil and Dr Satu Eito, Head of the Department of International Relations at the University of Brasilia.

The speakers emphasised the following issues:

- The importance of Brazil, the world’s seventh-largest economy;- The European Union as a model for regional integration;- The EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, signed in 2007, as an essential element of Euro-

Brazilian relations;- Brazil’s economic growth and democratic consolidation, which had made it an emerging

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country to which traditional development cooperation could not be applied;- The critical need to continue programmes like ERASMUS MUNDUS, in the interest of

encouraging exchanges of Brazilian and European students and teaching staff;- The balance achieved in EU-Brazil cooperation.

3.5. Working lunch with representatives of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI)

The group from the D-BR had a working lunch with Carlos Eduardo Abijaodi, Director of the CNI, on Friday 6 November 2015. The host, Mr Abijaodi, believed that negotiating trade agreements was essential to Brazilian industry’s recovery. Furthermore, by improving the conditions of access to foreign markets, trade agreements contributed to increasing global demand for Brazilian industrial products, encouraging economies of scale by reducing unit production costs and increasing competitiveness. The relationship with the EU was a priority for the CNI. The process of EU-Mercosur negotiations ought to be concluded quickly to ensure preferential access to the European market for Brazilian products. The Director of the CNI also took the view that, although Brazil had lost access to many EU development cooperation programmes, the country needed to continue benefiting from programmes like AL-INVEST. Finally, he mentioned the CNI’s interest in the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, the next summit of which would take place in 2016.


III BELO HORIZONTE (3 November 2015)

1. Meeting with representatives of the Municipal Government

Meeting with Eduardo Peres, Executive Secretary for Development of the Belo Horizonte Municipal Government, and Estefânia Aleixo, Deputy Secretary for International Relations

Eduardo Peres started by informing the visitors that the Head of the Municipal Government, Márcio Lacerda, was in Paris preparing for COP 21, so he could not attend the meeting. During the meeting, the group was informed, among other topics, of the importance of Minas Gerais State, with its privileged geographical position and GDP equal to that of Chile, the importance of the state’s policy of attracting foreign investment, the existence of excellent universities; major incentives for private enterprise, the commitment to technological innovation, progress on combating poverty; the adoption of social policies (in association with regional- and federal-level programmes), the increasingly important role of the Brazilian states and municipalities in the country’s foreign relations, the cosmopolitan and dynamic nature of the city of Belo Horizonte, the potential for commercial and cultural cooperation between Minas Gerais State and the EU, and prospects for negotiations on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement.


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2. Meeting with representatives of the regional legislature

Meeting with the Speaker of the Minas Gerais State Legislative Assembly, Adalclever Lopes (PMDB), and other members of the regional parliament

During the meeting, the European visitors and their Brazilian counterparts addressed the following issues: the idiosyncracy of Brazil (as a BRIC which had reconciled economic, social and democratic development in an exemplary way), the crisis in Brazil (one member of the regional parliament present considered that crisis more political than economic and called for political reform), successful combating of poverty in recent years, difficulties with Latin American integration, and negotiations on the future EU-Mercosur AA.

The following spoke: Paulo Rangel, António Marinho e Pinto, Carlos Zorrinho and Inês Zuber.

3. Meetings with other local bodies

3.1. Visit to the Santa Luzia Association for Prisoner Protection and Care (APAC)

a) Background to the issue both internationally and in Brazil

There was a series of global regulations, rules and decrees existed to promote the human rights of prisoners, such as the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nevertheless, poor treatment of prisoners was a worldwide problem and adequate systems were rare, even in the most developed countries. This situation was exacerbated for countries with high vulnerability indices, income differentials and crime rates.

In addition to these characteristics, Brazil shared the main difficulties found worldwide, even as a signatory of the UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners1, a series of principles and rules for organising prisons and for prisoner treatment practices that enabled sentences to be served in decent conditions, and a sense of responsibility to be upheld and developed. According to statistics from the International Centre for Prison Studies at King’s College (UK), Brazil had the fourth-largest prison population in the world, and came in behind only the US, China and Russia in terms of prisoner numbers.

b) APACs (Associações de Protecção e Assistência aos Condenados: Associations for

Prisoner Protection and Care)

In the context of this prison system, the activities of the APACs as regards the rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into society were particularly noteworthy. APACs were small prisons, which housed an average of 120 inmates. Brazilians had pioneered a method that had impact worldwide and became a reference point for the treatment of prisoners.

1 Adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, in 1955, and approved by the UN Economic and Social Council in its Resolution 663 CI (XXIV), of 1957.

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APACs were non-profit organisations, each of which had distinct legal personality, intended to humanise imprisonment. No police and weapons were used within the APAC prison system. Only civilian officials and civil society volunteers went to the prisons. Their actions in prisons were provided for in the Federal Constitution, their status was protected by the Civil Code and the Criminal Sentences Act, and they operated as an auxiliary of the judicial and executive branches, respectively, on criminal sentences and on compliance with prison sentences in closed, semi-closed and open regimes. The work of the APACs focused on the effective re-socialisation of prisoners, which prevented them from causing greater harm to society after they had completed their sentences and returned to society.

The APAC method dated back to 1972 and it had been extended to other municipalities, states and countries that had been seeking to reform their prison systems. At the time, there were 46 APACs in Brazil, with around 3 000 inmates; 36 of them were located in Minas Gerais. Such initiatives were being put into practice in 16 other countries around the globe, including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nigeria and Russia.

The effectiveness and efficiency of APACs were mainly demonstrated by their reoffending rate (15 % in APACs compared to 75 % in normal prisons) and their costs (EUR 300 per month as opposed to EUR 900 per month)1. Something else that stood out was that the prisoners themselves were partly responsible for their rehabilitation, as they took part in jointly managing units.

c) Participation of the EU and the AVSI Foundation

In view of the difficult situation in prison systems throughout the world, of increasing requests for new steps to increase public safety and of the efficiency of the APAC method in re-socialising prisoners, the Italian Voluntary International Service Association (AVSI) Foundation had proposed a new project to strengthen the APACs, in partnership with the EU, through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. As the proposal had been approved, activities had been taking place since 2011.

The first part of the project had taken place in 2011 and 2012, and the second stage had occurred between 2013 and April 2015. A third project was also slated to go ahead. The first and second projects had received an EU contribution of EUR 320 000. The third project, scheduled to last 30 months, was to receive an allocation of around EUR 700 000. The main purpose of the activities and strategies put into effect had been to enhance the general system for managing prison units and to consolidate their methodology, against a backdrop of significant expansion of APACs.

The AVSI Foundation and the EU Delegation in Brasilia had recently contributed to incorporating APACs into the Eurosocial II programme, the largest programme of cooperation between European and Latin American governments, which is intended to foster greater social cohesion.

d) Visit of members of the D-BR

The Members’ visit to the Santa Lucia APAC facilities took place on the morning of Tuesday,

1 Minas Gerais Supreme Court: http://www.tjmg.jus.br/portal/acoes-e-programas/programa-novos-rumos/apac/

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3 November 2015. Several speakers, including State MP Durval Andrade, introduced the project. They stressed that the prison system, with its ‘prison industry’ mind-set, did not rehabilitate anyone. In this ‘industry’, lower security prisons were considered school and higher security prisons, post-graduate studies. In complete contrast, the APAC method believed and invested in the rehabilitation of prisoners, on the basis of the role of work in society, which broke with the idleness of the traditional prison system, the cause of countless crises.

At the end of the visit, Paulo Rangel thanked Santa Luzia APAC for the welcome received and expressed his admiration for its work.

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IV MAIN FINDINGS

EU-Brazil bilateral relations and negotiations on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement dominated the agenda during the cordial meetings which the Members of the D-BR held with their Brazilian counterparts. On the subject of bilateral relations, the importance of interparliamentary relations and the Strategic Partnership was underlined. They are both mechanisms to bring together in a multi-polar world two influential players with a shared historical and cultural identity and which uphold the same principles and values. The MEPsalso emphasised the need for the Brazilian Congress to create a body which would specialise in relations with the European Union, as a counterpart to the D-BR.

During the meetings, members of the D-BR emphasised the need for progress with the Association Agreement negotiations, with a view to reaching a balanced and ambitious agreement complying with the principle of reciprocity, as recommended at the EU-CELAC Summit held in Santiago de Chile in January 2013. The European Union was aware of the international political and economic importance of Brazil – a major player on the world stage – and of Mercosur and its member states. In fact, the EU considered Brazil’s ‘leadership’ within the bloc crucially important.

In a globalised world, it was more necessary than ever for regional groups to be able to build bi-regional alliances in order to address the challenges of the modern world successfully. It also needed to be borne in mind that the EU was engaged in negotiations with the United States on signing the TTIP, and with other countries on other free trade and investment agreements. It would be regrettable if the EU established association agreements with all of the Americas except for Mercosur, particularly as an agreement would be beneficial to both parties.

The European representatives welcomed the favourable attitude of the Brazilian authorities towards the Association Agreement and hoped that Uruguay’s rotating presidency would move the process forward during the first half of 2016.

The members of the D-BR thanked the Brazilian Ambassador to the EU in Brussels, Dr Vera Machado, and her colleagues, along with the Head of the EU Delegation to Brasilia, Dr João Cravinho, and his colleagues for their excellent cooperation and willingness to help. The Members of the working group also thanked the Brazilian authorities for the magnificent welcome that they had received, in both Brasilia and Belo Horizonte, which had made a decisive contribution to the success of the visit.

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PARLAMENTO EUROPEU 2009 - 2014

Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Visit to Brazil2 - 6 November 2015

Programme for Belo Horizonte / Brasília

Monday, 2 November 2015 Belo Horizonte

Arrival of the EP Delegation at the International Airport in Belo Horizonte (Cofins) and transfer to the hotel

Royal Savassi Boutique HotelRua Alagoas, 699 Belo Horizonte, CEP 30130160Phone: + 55 (31) 2138 0000

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Tuesday, 3 November 2015 Belo Horizonte

08.00 Departure from the hotel to APAC Santa Luzia

09.10 - 11.30 Visit of a pioneer project of prison management without guards (Associação de Proteção e Assistência ao Condenado (APAC) = Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts subsidised by the European Union

Estrada do Alto das Maravilhas, 3111. Bairro Frimisa, Santa Luzia/MG.Phone: +55 (31) 9795-0517 / +55 (31) 9795-9507

13.00 - 14.30 Lunch / Meeting with Representatives of the Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais (FIEMG)

Avenida do Contorno N°4520Edifício Albano Franco no Bairro FuncionáriosRestaurante do 10° andarTelefone :+55 31 3263-4200

15.30Meeting with H.E. Eduardo Peres, Secretary of Development (City of Belo Horizonte)

Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte Av. Afonso Pena 1212 - CentroPhone: +55 31 98978.-4504

17.30 Meeting with H.E. Adalclever Lopes (PMDB), President of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Minas Gerais and other Members

R. Rodrigues Caldas, 30 - Santo AgostinhoBelo Horizonte - MG, 30190-921, BrasilPhone: +55 31 2108-7800

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Wednesday, 4 November 2015 Belo Horizonte / Brasília

6.45 Transfer to the International Airport of Belo Horizonte - Confins (CNF)

9.09 - 10.37 Flight JJ 4708 (TAM) to Brasília (BSB) and transfer to the hotel

Hotel Meliá Brasil 21 SHS Quadra 6 - Bl. B, D e F- Asa Sul70.316-000, Brasilia Phone: +55 61 3218-4700Fax: +55 61 3218-4705

13.00 - 14.30 Working lunch hosted by H.E. Eduardo Barbosa (PSDB), Chair of the Brazil-EU Parliamentary Friendship Group

Venue: Palácio do Congresso NacionalPraça dos Três Poderes - Brasília - DF - CEP 70160-900Members' Restaurant 10th floorPhone: +55 61 3216-0000

Meetings with Representative from the Brazilian Legislative:

14.30 Meeting with H.E. Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (PSDB), Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defence of the Senate

Venue: Palácio do Congresso NacionalPraça dos Três Poderes - Brasília - DF - CEP 70160-900Telefone: +55 61 3216-0000

15.30 Meeting with H.E. Senator Roberto Requião (PMDB), Chair of the Brazilian Representation in the Mercosul Parliament and Co-President of the Euro Latin-American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat)


16.30 Meeting with H.E. Jô Moraes (PCdoB), Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defence of the Chamber of Deputies


17.30 Meeting with H.E. Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB)


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Thursday, 5 November 2015 Brasília

Meetings in the Melia Hotel:

09.30 Interview with the D-BR chairman (Newspaper Correio Braziliense)

Meetings with representatives of the Brazilian Executive:

11.00 Meeting with H.E. Rodrigo Rollemberg (PSB), Governor of the Federal District

Venue: Buriti Palace

12.30 - 14.30 Free lunch

15.00 Meeting with H.E. Nilma Lino Gomes, Minister for Women, Racial Equality and Human Rights

Venue: Secretaria de Direitos Humanos Presidência da República

16.00 Meeting with H.E. Luiz Fernando Furlan, Secretary of State (Ministry of State of Development, Industry and External Trade)

Venue: Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco "J"Brasília, DF, 70053-900 BrasilPhone: +55 (61) 2027-7000

17.00 Meeting with H.E. Ambassador Mauro Vieira, Ministry of Foreign Relations

Venue: Palácio ItamaratyEsplanada dos MinistériosBloco H -Brasília/DF - Brasil - CEP 70.170-900 Phone: +55 61 2030-8721

18.00 Meeting with H. E. Ricardo Lewandowski. President of the Federal Supreme Court (STF)

Venue: Praça dos Três PoderesBrasília - DF - CEP 70175-900Phone: + 55.61.3217.3000

20.00 Working dinner with H.E. João Gomes Cravinho, Ambassador ( EU Delegation)

Ambassador's ResidenceQL 22 Conjunto 9 Casa 20Brasília - DF –

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Friday, 6 November 2015 Brasília

08.30 - 09.30 Working breakfast with representatives of the civil society

Hotel Meliá Brasil 21 Sala: Encontro I

SHS Quadra 6 - Bl. B, D e F- Asa Sul70.316-000, Brasilia Phone: +55 61 3218-4700

10.00 - 12.00Meeting at the National University of Brasilia (UNB) (Institute for International Relations) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the EU-Brazil Cooperation

Campus Universitário Darcy RibeiroBrasília - DF, 70910-900, BrazilPhone: +55 61 (61) 3107.3633

13.00 - 15.00Working lunch with representatives of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI)

SBN - Quadra 1 - Bloco CEd. Roberto SimonsenBrasília - DF CEP 70040-903Phone: +55 61 3317 9000

16.15 Transfer from the Hotel Melia to the airport and return to Europe

Flights: TP 58, JJ3782

18.15 Transfer from the Hotel Melia to the airport and return to Europe

Flight: JJ3575

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2014 - 2019

Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Visit to Brazil 2 - 6 November 2015

Participants' List

António MARINHO e PINTO1st Vice-chairman of the

DelegationALDE - Portugal

Carlos ZORRINHO2nd Vice-chairman of the

DelegationS&D - Portugal

Ashley FOXECR - United Kingdom

Inês ZUBERGUE/NGL - Portugal

Paulo RANGELChairman of the Delegation

PPE - Portugal

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EP Secretariat (2):Mr Pedro NEVES (Administratornh b)Ms Anneli KÖNIG (Administrative assistant)

Political Group Advisors (2):Mr Miguel SEABRA, PPEMs Odilia HENRIQUES, S&D

Interpreters (3): Ms Maria Adriana CARVALHO-POSSEMIERS Portuguese booth (team leader)Ms Paula CUNHA MATTOS Portuguese boothMr Andrew BOLTON English booth

Abbreviation for Political Groups:

PPE: Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)S&D: Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European ParliamentECR: European Conservatives and Reformists GroupALDE: Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for EuropeGUE/NGL: Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left

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Reporting sheetAssessment of projects in third countries financed or co-financed

by the EU budget

Parliamentary bodyDelegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Date:03.11.2015

Description of the project visited: Alternative penitentiary system (APAC)

LocationSanta Luzia (near Belo Horizonte, capital of Federal State of Minas Gerais)

PurposeThe APAC (Associação de Protecção e Assistência aos Condenados) is an alternative model in the Brazil penitentiary system. The APACs are entities of private law, with legal personality, allowed by Criminal Procedural Code, to assist in the serving of custodial sentences, through the administration of centre for social reintegration of its methodology. The main objectives are:1) to promote the humanisation of prisons, without losing sight of the purpose of punishment, 2) to prevent recidivism of crime and 3) to offer alternatives to recover the convicts.

Time frameTwo projects have been implemented. The 1st started in January 2011 and ended in December 2012. A 2nd project lasted from 2013 till April 2015. A third project is also foreseen.

FinancingThe first and second projects received an EU contribution of € 320.000. The third one should last 30 months receiving an EU contribution of € 700.000.

Assessment Mark out of 10

by the State authoritiesThe Federal Government did not offer a financial support to the initial projects, however, their success convinced the Government to support the third project in the future.

8

by the local authoritiesThe regional State authorities offered an unconditional support to the initiative since the beginning (Regional Executive, Legislative and Judiciary).

10

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by the EU delegation to the countryThe EU Delegation is very pleased with the success of the initiative. The projects have contributed to the promotion of the human rights of people sentenced to jail, to decrease the acts of violence against the convicts and to reintegrate them in the society.

10

by another source (NGO, foreign service of EU MS, etc. - specify)The Italian NGO AVSI considers this project as a model to be followed.

10

by the visiting EP DelegationThe five members of D-BR appreciated very much the initiative which could be a valid alternative to the violence of the traditional, overcrowded Brazilian penitentiary system.

10

Overall summaryExcellent action whose specific objective is to improve the living conditions of 2.000 people sentenced to jail by strengthening the Brazilian APACs and promoting the expansion to other areas of the country.

Total 48

Officer responsible for the activitydate and signature20.11.2015Pedro Neves

Visa of the HoU date and signature

Copied to: DROI / DEVE / DG EXPO date

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Reporting sheet

Assessment of international agreements

Parliamentary bodyDelegation for the Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil

Date: 06.11.2015

Description of the agreement: EU-Mercosur Association Agreement (still in phase of negotiations)

Type (bilateral, multilateral, etc...)

Bi-regional Agreement (EU-Mercosur)Scope (framework agreement, trade, etc...)

Association Agreement (Political Dialogue, Trade and Cooperation)Time frame (date of entering into force, revision or rendez-vous clauses, etc...)The negotiations started in 1998. They failed in 2004 and they were launched again in 2010.ProspectsWaiting for exchange of offers in trade area (December 2015?)

Assessment Mark out of 10

by the State authoritiesThe Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Mauro Vieira and the Trade State Secretary, Mr Fernando Furlan are very favourable to the above mentioned agreement in order to maintain Brazil's political and economic leadership in the Mercosur.

10

by the local parliamentary authoritiesThe Presidents of the Foreign Affairs Committees (Senate and Chamber) and other Members of the Congress expressed their full support to the EU-Mercosur Agreement.

10

by the EU delegation to the countryAccording to the EU Delegation in Brasília there is a large consensus around the Agreement. Both political and economic sectors are in favour. They wish to have the exchange of offers as soon as possible.

10

by another source (NGO, foreign service of EU MS, etc. - specify)The National Industry Confederation (CNI) and the regional

10

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one (FIEMG) expressed their hope to see the end of the negotiations in 2016.

by the EP bodyThe visiting MEPs insisted on the need to conclude the AA negotiations and were pleased to see the receptiveness of the Brazilian authorities and business sectors.

10

Overall summaryIt is clear that Brazil, in its quality of Mercosur leader, will continue to push the EU-Mercosur negotiations on the AA. Brazil does not wish to stay isolated in the world context after the success of the recent TPP and the TTIP negotiations.

Total

Officer responsible for the activitydate and : 20.11.2015 Pedro Neves

Visa of the HoU date and signature

Copied to:AFET / INTA

date

Documents

EN · Chamber of Deputies, Jô Moraes, accompanied by MPsEduardo Barbosaand Bruna Furlan, welcomed the European visitors. Paulo Rangeldiscussed the negotiations between the European