Brazil as a key partner of the EU: President von der Leyen in Rio de Janeiro

Ahead of the signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur agreements in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 January 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visits Brazil for a meeting with President Inácio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a key partner for the European Union on trade, investment, climate, multilateralism, the rules-based order, democracy, and human rights. The latest Brazilian presidency of Mercosur was crucial to advance the negotiations of the EU-Mercosur agreement, paving the way to its signature in Paraguay. The official visit reinforces this strong alliance and further strengthens the bilateral relationship between Brazil and the EU. Disclaimer: Comments considered in breach of our social media moderation policy may be removed. You can take a look at it here: https://europa.eu/!q4KMP8 Follow us on: -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/ -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission Check our website: https://commission.europa.eu/