The 1st European Union – Brazil Investment Forum, held on May 29 in São Paulo, was consolidated as a milestone in strengthening economic relations between the two strategic partners. Organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Brazil, CEBRI, and ApexBrasil, the event brought together around 200 business leaders from Brazil and the European Union, including representatives from the financial sector as well as federal and subnational authorities.
The European delegation was led by António Costa, Chairman of the European Council, and included the participation of a European Commissioner, along with several leaders from the bloc. On the Brazilian side, Jorge Viana, CEO of ApexBrasil, coordinated the engagement with representatives from the public and private sectors.
The Forum took place at a time of intense geopolitical change, in which partnerships based on trust, predictability, and clear rules are becoming increasingly relevant. The European Union is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner and the primary source of foreign direct investment. In this context, the Mercosur-EU Agreement emerges as a catalyst for a new cycle of joint economic development.
This first meeting marked the launch of a structured Investment Dialogue between Brazil and the European Union, formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent between ApexBrasil and the European Union. The initiative aims to foster sustainable, inclusive, and long-term investments aligned with Brazil’s Ecological Transformation Plan, the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.
The Forum addressed essential topics for EU-Brazil trade relations, such as industrial decarbonization, renewable energy and green hydrogen, critical raw material value chains, transport connectivity, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. By connecting strategic leadership on both sides of the Atlantic, the event created a dialogue and networking platform geared towards implementing high-impact transformative investment projects.
Jorge Viana emphasized that the energy transition, climate crisis, and global demographic changes pose complex challenges that can only be addressed through international cooperation: “The Forum is an opportunity to show that Brazil is committed to a sustainable development model, in partnership with those who share the same values,” he stated.
For António Costa, the Forum symbolized the deepening of a strategic relationship with historical, cultural, and economic roots. “We are experiencing a moment of bilateral trust and great potential. We need to consolidate a solid, long-lasting, and sustainable economic foundation between Brazil and Europe,” stressed the Chairman of the European Council.
Ambassador Marcos Caramuru, International Advisory Board Member at CEBRI, highlighted the role of clear rules, predictability, and regulatory quality as key elements to boost long-term investments. According to him, “there is a real window of opportunity for partnerships in sectors such as infrastructure, sanitation, and technology.”
Clarissa Lins, also an International Advisory Board Member at CEBRI, reinforced the importance of shared values between Brazil and the European Union. “Convergence in areas such as democracy, human rights, and a low-carbon economy lays the groundwork for a healthy, competitive, and complementary business environment between the regions,” she noted.
Rafaela Guedes, a Senior Fellow at CEBRI, highlighted the importance of aligning the financial sector with decarbonization goals. “It is essential that investments are connected to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics to ensure that capital effectively contributes to ecological transformation.”
Fernanda Cimini, also Senior Fellow at CEBRI, emphasized that “the Forum symbolizes a broader geoeconomic movement of Brazil’s repositioning on the international stage” and noted that “the economic complementarity between Brazil and the EU can yield concrete gains in innovation, global value chains, and energy security.”
CEBRI reaffirms its commitment to act as a platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors, both national and international, contributing independent thought, knowledge, and multisectoral engagement toward a more sustainable and integrated future between Brazil and the European Union.
