Lula targets an ideological agenda in Brussels when he runs out of an agreement with the EU

The ideological agenda is once again on the radar of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The PT member leaves for the city of Brussels, Belgium, this Saturday (15), to participate in the CELAC-European Union Summit with 60 countries. Between bilateral meetings and commitments related to the event, Lula also has a meeting scheduled with progressive European leaders.

The summit will take place between the 17th and 18th, and should discuss subjects such as geopolitical tensions, increase in hunger and poverty, environmental challenges and the reform of the international financial system. The event also provides four thematic tables on digital transition, climate, citizen security, trade and sustainable development.

In addition to this agenda, the Brazilian representative will also take advantage of the trip to strengthen ties with the European left. On Tuesday morning (18), at the invitation of the president of the European Socialist Party (PSE), Stefan Löfven, Lula will meet with progressive leaders from the continent.

On the official page of the PSE, the party informs that the meeting has the theme: “Together for Global Justice: Progressive Leaders of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean”. In addition to Lula, other heads of state from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe are also participating in the meeting – it is not known for sure, however, who the guests are.

Mercosur-European Union agreement should not advance on Lula’s trip to Brussels

Since assuming his third term, Lula has made a commitment to try to close the free trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union in the first half of the year, but has failed in that objective. The Brazilian representative has found it difficult to put an end to negotiations that have lasted more than 20 years.

On his last trips to Europe, the PT member addressed the issue with several leaders on the continent. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, one of the main opponents of the agreement, was even one of the figures with whom Lula met to try to unlock the negotiations.

With regard to Brussels, expectations were no different. There was hope that the Brazilian representative would use the trip to advance the agreement with the European Union, but that should not happen. During briefing at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasília, this Thursday (13), the folder informed that the debates involving the negotiations should not evolve with the European countries next week.

This is because Brazil already has a proposal to respond to the new requirements of the European Union. At this moment, the text formulated by the Brazilian government needs to be endorsed by the Mercosur member countries before being sent to Europe.

Currently, the free trade agreement between the two blocs is stalled because European countries have made a series of new demands on Mercosur so that the treaty is finally closed. nicknamed side letterthe new EU impositions also did not please this side of the Atlantic and, therefore, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are working on a counterproposal.

Lula does not prioritize dialogue with countries that oppose the agreement with the EU

As reported by the Itamaraty this Thursday (13), Lula has a series of bilateral meetings scheduled during his trip to Brussels. Among them, the petista meets with the king of Belgium and the Belgian prime minister, the head of government of Austria, the prime minister of Sweden and Denmark, the prime minister of Barbados, the president of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament.

The absence of meetings with heads of state who are opposed to the Mercosur-European Union agreement, such as France, Ireland and the Netherlands, is noteworthy – an opportunity that could be used to try to advance in the negotiations. There is also no plan for a meeting between Lula and a leader from Spain, a country that, this semester, is in the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Without moving forward with regard to the Mercosur-European Union agreement, Lula should take advantage of the trip, then, to create political and ideological alliances. The approximation of left-wing leaders is a common movement of Lula and it has not been different in this third term.

The interest in forming this ideological alliance does not distance Lula even from dictators. In recent months, the petista has been heavily criticized for the positions he has taken on the Venezuelan dictator, Nicolás Maduro.

Recently, the petista gave a speech at the São Paulo Forum, a meeting that brought together left-wing leaders and parties from around the world, and stated that he did not feel offended at being called a “communist”.

Lula’s agenda in Brussels

Lula takes off from Brazil for Europe on Saturday (15) evening and should arrive on Sunday afternoon (16) in the Belgian capital. The agenda of the CELAC-European Union Summit begins on Monday (17th), with the opening event of the CELAC-European Union Business Forum.

Then, the Brazilian has a meeting with the Austrian chancellor, Karl Nehammer; with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; and with the heads of state and government of Belgium. Soon after, Lula has a private lunch and then meets with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

In the afternoon, there will be the opening session of the summit of the two blocs; then the leaders pose for a photo and, finally, the joint declaration signing ceremony.

The following day, on Tuesday (18), Lula participates in a breakfast with progressive European leaders. Then, the PT has a bilateral meeting with the head of government of Austria, Karl Nehammer and, soon after, a general lunch with all the leaders invited to the summit.

Lula will also meet with the prime minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristenssen; then with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley and, before closing the agenda of the meeting, she will give a press conference.

Still at the end of the day, as reported by the Itamaraty Palace, the PT may also participate in the Peoples’ Summit, an event with a leftist bias that will also be held in Brussels. Lula’s participation, however, has not yet been confirmed.