MANAUS, BRAZIL – Amazonas state hosted the annual mission of European Union (EU) ambassadors to Brazil between May 20 and 24. The visit aimed to bring representatives closer to the economic, trade, academic and environmental opportunities in the Amazon region, particularly in light of prospects arising from the implementation of the EU-Mercosur Agreement.

The European Union ambassador to Brazil, Marian Schuegraf, coordinated the mission, which included diplomats from 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

During the visit, the delegation met with local authorities, including the governor of Amazonas and the mayor of Manaus, as well as representatives from the productive sector, universities, research centers and civil society organizations. The goal was to identify areas for cooperation in innovation, sustainability, bioeconomy, trade and technological development.

In the security sector, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands received a formal invitation to integrate investigative activities in the region through the Amazon International Police Cooperation Center (CCPI) in Manaus. The initiative aims to combat transnational organized crime and drug trafficking in the Amazon region.

The choice of Amazonas as host of the mission reflects growing European interest in the Amazon as a strategic axis for partnerships related to environmental preservation, the green economy and institutional strengthening. At the same time, it reinforces the importance of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union as a tool to expand investments, facilitate trade and consolidate a joint sustainable development agenda between the two blocs.

Amazon Agency