In an international context dominated by great power competition, threats to international law and democracy, rising protectionism and the questioning of multilateral institutions and norms, the EU and Brazil have much to gain and many incentives to step up their cooperation an fully develop a strategic relationship already established in 2007 but not properly taken care of by an Europe distracted by its own internal development and needs. Since then, the importance of Brazil as an international actor and a middle power has but grown, culminating in the Brazil 2024 G20 Presidency, turning it into a key global actor and, as such, a key interlocutor for the EU to discuss global issues and, at the same time, to better reach out to the Global South preoccupations and needs.

As both partners navigate a rapidly deteriorating global order there is a pressing need to reassess their partnership and explore new avenues for cooperation. In a context marked by key upcoming international events, including the EU–CELAC Summit in Bogotá, COP30 in Belém, the 4th international Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, and the G20 meeting in South Africa, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is partnering with the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) to organize a series of events and bilateral meetings aimed at discussing how can the EU deepen its strategic partnership in areas of common interest, including global governance, trade and technology, and the defence of democracy.