Committee on Foreign Affairs The Secretariat

8 May 2013

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO (Brasilia and Sao Paulo), 2 April - 5 April 2013

MISSION REPORT

MAIN FINDINGS

Strengthening dialogue with the Brazilian authorities should one of the priorities of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in the context of the EU strategic partnership and the EU-Brazil joint action plan (2012-2014). There are currently more than 30 on-going dialogues under the EU-BR strategic partnership. A Civil Society Forum and a Business Forum take place every year, back to back with EU- BR Summitt. Yet, a true regular and structured dialogue between the EP and the Brazilian Congress is still missing. Visits of MEPs are numerous but still often ad-hoc and unbalanced with BR visits to Europe. A Parliamentary Forum that could meet before Summits could be a useful tool to structure this dialogue and to improve the EU-BR partnership. In reply to the interest shown by both the Chamber of Deputies and the to structure better their dialogue with the European Parliament, reflected also in the Brazil-EU Joint Action Plan for 2012-2014 the AFET delegation urged both houses to come up with a joint initiative and promised that it would be met favourable in the European Parliament.

The meetings held with governmental representatives confirmed their commitment, announced at the CELAC Summit in January, to submit a negotiating offer on market access regarding the EU- Mercosul Agreement by the end of the year with due account taken of the electoral deadlines of some key players (Paraguay, Venezuela) and the impact of the last economic crisis (Argentina). These meetings also helped clarify that Brazil was not in favour of pursuing the negotiations separately or making differentiations for each individual participating state.

In terms of the follow up that Brazil would give to the proposed structured dialogue on international peace and security our counterparts remained vague rather vague. The discussions on broadening the transatlantic partnership and on the International Community's principle "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P), they were clearly reluctant to engage in operations which which could be perceived on their assessment as interference and a threat to the sovereignty of another state. Brazil clearly objects to R2P being used to pursue a regime change, and tends to identify "transatlantic cooperation" as an extension of NATO. There is clearly a perception gap here and a fundamental misunderstanding of what trilateral cooperation across the Atlantic would mean. This calls for renewed efforts and engagement from the European side to dispel such misrepresentations.

B-1047 Brussels - Tel +32 2 28 46086 - Fax +32 2 28 49013 F-67070 Strasbourg - Tel +33 3 88 1 64112 - Fax +33 3 88 1 76902 Interestingly, our Brazilian interlocutors pointed out that the BRICS are for them merely a coordination forum which in no way undermines their strategic partnership with Europe. Brazilians advocate a multi-polar governance system with Brazil entertaining constructive relations with all main global players.

In reply to the interest shown by both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to structure better their dialogue with the European Parliament, reflected also in the Brazil-EU Joint Action Plan for 2012- 2014 the AFET delegation urged both houses to come up with a joint initiative and promised that it would be met favourable in the European Parliament. This increased role for Brazil would come with new responsibilities and obligations to take sides, often in difficult decisions.

The question of the economic crisis was often brought to the discussion, allowing Mmebers to clarify some misconceptions and to present the measures taken to overcome it.

Main Report

1. debriefing at EU delegation

EP President Martin Schulz should have signed an agreement to have a more structured relationship between Parliaments in the context of his visit to the country last November, but the visit was cancelled. Mr Henrique Eduardo Alves, President of the Chamber, plans visit the EP in Strasbourg in May (this is in the meantime been cancelled) and it could be a good occasion to re-launch the initiative. Brazil is incurring in increasingly protectionist practices and remains reluctant to sign new bilateral Association Agreements. Developing its internal market is taking a higher priority and is probably easier than opening Brazilian markets and have Brazilian industrial goods competing also abroad with external goods.. On the agricultural sector however, the situation is the opposite, Brazil is highly competitive and is interested in opening more international markets. Mercosur Talks resumed in 2010 and a commitment to an exchange of offers on market access by the end of the year was reached in Santiago de Chile summit in January 2013, thanks to the personal involvement of President . In any case, Brazil wants a deal that comprises all the Member States in the bloc. The last BRICS summit had taken place just days before in South Africa (Durban). For Brazil, the BRICS bloc is not a substitute for other International Organisations and Brazil wants to keep its current format of meetings without a permanent structure or secretariat. An important outcome of the summit was the proposal to create a BRICS development bank. Brazil is keen on promoting a multi-polar world and is following closely the emerging influence of China and Mexico. Brazil also prefers to develop its relationships with countries in the South hemisphere, something that is also reflected on its sceptical view of NATO. In general, the Foreign Affairs interests of Brazil can be seen as concentric circles of influence: first Mercosur, then UNASUR, then CELAC. It is keen on having a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and works for it with a high number embassies and an extremely prudent approach to intervention in international conflicts.

2. Meeting with the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies, in the Chair, Mr. Nelson Pellegrino,

The discussion touched the domestic challenges facing both parties: Europe is still undergoing a period of reforms necessary to tackle the current economic crisis, but despite the recent storm in financial markets the Euro is resisting well and the EU should come out reinforced from the whole process and

2 reforms undertaken.. The EP plays an active role in monitoring economic policies of the Member States, including their fiscal imbalances. Brazil faces challenges such as a low Human Development Index and its high degree of illiteracy. Other strategic aspects of Brazilian policies are the development of and the regional integration for using resources better. Brazilians praised the EU´s achievement of bringing long standing Peace to Europe and expressed that it should be an inspiration for Mercosur. Another topic discussed was the importance of Brazil and the EU as global players and the importance of EU-Brazil cooperation in sectors such as environment, science and technology, transport and the high level dialogue between both sides of the Atlantic. Brazil and the EU share the same democratic values. Dialogues between the EU and Brazil cover already around 30 areas but there is still not a structured dialogue between parliaments, therefore, the possibility to establish a structured dialogue between Parliaments should be further explored.

3. Meeting with Senator , and Senator Ricardo Ferraço, Chairman of the External Affairs Committee in the Brazilian Senate.

The current activities of the respective Parliaments were reviewed: the Brazilian Senate is very engaged in the micro-economic agenda for structural reform of the Brazilian economy in order to make it more resilient. The relations with other global players such as the EU are of high importance for the Senate and they would be in favour of undertaking concrete steps towards upgrading current relations with the EP. The role and importance of the EP in external relations of the EU was also presented explaining that, for instance, it is in charge of the ratification of Association Agreements. In this context, relationship with Latin America is a priority for the EP. The importance of the compromise for the exchange of offers on market access in the negotiations for an EU-Mercosur Association Agreement was highlighted. Parliamentarians discussed also other areas for which potential for closer cooperation between the EU and Brazil, such as the management of the economic global slowdown, the reform of the International Financial Institutions and other topics on the international agenda. The delegation Chair also invited Senators to work on a structured dialogue between the two parliaments and the Senators informed that a special committee had been created in the Senate for this purpose.

4. Meeting with MP André Vargas, acting President of the Chamber of Deputies (1st VP).

The discussion highlighted the common values and often the similar positions of Brazil and the EU on topics such as climate change, human rights, drugs trafficking etc. On this basis, closer cooperation between both parties is possible. A possible agreement with Mercosur would intensify bilateral economic ties, which are already important with some EU Members States. Brazil is working to overcome the obstacles impeding the Agreement. In this sense, although negotiations cover sensitive areas, these are a relatively small share of all the products which could be liberalized. Other association agreements signed by the EU have brought forward important gains, such as those with Mexico and Chile (or the more recent with Central America). Even admitting that in the process, some Member States could try to protect specific sectors, the potential for gains is enormous, Brazilian deputies expressed the importance for Brazil of reinforcing their existing ties also with their neighbours and the relations that already maintain with their parliaments. In their view, Brazilian links with their neighbours could also benefit the EU. In terms of Defence, for instance, Brazil has made a great move forward upgrading its army forces. In the process, important supply contracts in this sector have been signed with many EU Member States. Other countries in Latin America could follow suit and decide to purchase goods to the EU, thereby benefitting also the EU. Finally, the need for a more structured relationship between Parliaments was also discussed, mentioning that the AFET committee had never been in official visit to Brazil in the current , which shows the interest that the country inspires for the EU.

3 5. Meeting with Marco Aurélio Garcia, President's special advisor on International Affairs.

Mr Garcia described the Brazilian foreign affairs policy as "universalist", i.e. one that promotes a multi polar world, in which Brazil wants to be close to its neighbours in South America. In the last BRICS summit, the Brazilian development bank (BNDES) started talks with the goal of creating a BRICS development bank. Brazil has always been very engaged in the WTO Doha Round and had submitted a very suitable candidate for the post of Director General of the WTO, Roberto Azevedo1. In terms of foreign policy, Brazil was very concerned on Africa especially on Guinea Bissau. Nevertheless, the Brazilian approach to foreign conflicts is not so much based on a right to protect the people affected (Responsibility to protect, R2P), but rather on analysing firstly what is the best way to do it. For the Brazilians, the EU is too influenced by NATO. Brazil prefers to cooperate with neighbours in the South using the military dimension as a tool for regional integration, for example through the South American Defense Council (SADC) of Unasur2. It has intervened in Haiti only because there was no real functioning government in power and maintains a cautious position on Syria, arguing that human rights violations come from both sides of the conflict. Mr Garcia expressed doubts about possible wider trans- Atlantic cooperation: Brazil tends to side more with other Southern initiatives such as the ZOPACAS. With regard to Mercosur, Mr Garcia expressed his confidence on the possibility to reach an Agreement. Elections in Venezuela and Paraguay should lead to a normalisation of relations among the members of the bloc. Patience with Argentina is needed: its economic policies are natural responses to the shock it experienced after its 2002 crisis. Problems in Venezuela are attributable to both the party in power and the opposition; the winner in next presidential elections needs to redress the economy. In any case, if a deal is signed with Mercosur, Brazil strongly favours an agreement with the all the countries to specific bilateral agreements.

6. Meeting with Antonio , Minister of Foreign Affairs.

South America is a region where Brazil feels naturally engaged in terms of foreign policy. Mercosur negotiations could be successful this time: a deadline for concrete exchange of offers was necessary by the end of year due to elections in Paraguay and Venezuela, but the private sector in Brazil remains very positive about the agreement, Brazil will lose its WTO GSP treatment in 2014 and in the meantime the EU is negotiating other agreements. But Brazil also expects from Europe a realistic offer to liberalise the agricultural sector. On the debate R2P Vs "Responsibility while protecting" (RWP) Mr. Patriota told members that for Brazil protection of civilians implies that the International community exercises its responsibility seriously to prevent situations requiring intervention. The Middle East is an example where the International Community is not exercising its responsibility. It is legitimate for the UNSC, failing any other means, to make recourse to force. However, when it comes to that, proportionality must be kept in mind. Iraq shows that military intervention has created more casualties and more instability (and had other unexpected secondary effects) than the status quo. Libya was a case where a resolution was used for purposes it was not intended for, and this erodes the legitimacy of UNSC decisions. RWP is in a way intended to safeguard the credibility of R2P. Current structures of global governance need to adapt to reflect the new balance of powers. The BRICS Summit is not seen by Brazilians as a replacement of existing partnerships. G20 is a good step to reflect new realities, whilst the reform of the UN is in a deadlock. On Atlantic cooperation, it is difficult to develop security cooperation with North Atlantic countries which still think they can act even without international mandate (Iraq, Kosovo...). For Brazil it is essential that international law is respected. It is their prevailing principle and should remain so.

1 The Brazilian candidate, Roberto Azevedo, was finally appointed on 7 May to head the World Trade Organization. 2 Just days after the visit, Ministers of Defence of Argentina and Chile met Brazilian Minister of Defence, Celso Amorim, to discuss possible inclusion of Brazil in Peace Force Cruz del Sur, a joint 1.000 troops brigade of Chile and Argentina, at UN disposal for International Peace missions.

4 7. Meeting with Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Member of the National Truth Commission 3

The National Truth Commission, (NTC) investigates the period 1946-1988. The number of people officially declared as disappeared is around 500, much less than in other Latin American dictatorships. The matter is not as sensitive as in other countries, but has gained great popular attention with the creation of the NTC. Following previous initiatives and despite resistance from sectors of the army forces, Dilma Rousseff managed to create the Commission in 2012 appointing 7 members. Inspired by the Commission created in Argentina, The NTC received important resources for assisting its members in writing a report on their investigation. However, an amnesty law precludes prosecution of crimes and the role of the NTC is only to investigate, with no criminal consequences. The most important result up to now is that it has provided food for thought: Mr Pinheiro explained his surprise for the visibility that the NTC is gaining in Brazil. Since Mr Pinheiro is also Chair of the UN's International Commission of Inquiry for Syria he also discussed the topic with the delegation, explaining that in his recent report they tend not to take any position in the conflict. Despite the disastrous situation in the country he does not believe in a military solution to the conflict. It is not easy to distinguish who the rebels really are, since they are mixed with Alqaeda groups. He expressed concerned on the soft stance of the EU on the selling of arms in the area and reasoned that these arms have the potential to be used in the future against the EU.

8. Meeting with Mr Celso Amorim, Defence Minister. Ministry of Defence

Mr Amorim explained that he had been involved in the initial negotiations of EU-Mercosur that subsequently stalled. He remained optimistic about the current negotiations (although he was not aware of the details in his current post). He explained that for Brazil it is crucial to diversify its relationships both on the economic and on the political ground and emphasized the importance of the new dialogue recently launched with the EU on international peace and security. Otherwise, Brazil attaches much importance to Africa and is very concerned on conflicts such as Libya and Mali. The problem is that one needs always a mandate from UN in order to act. Iraq is an example of what decisions driven by impatience can bring about. Discussion also touched peace talks in Colombia with the FARC: Brazil remained confident and stressed the importance of Colombian dialogues with neighbours especially with Venezuela with whom they had had serious frictions in the recent past. Given Brazil and the EU´s common interests in a wide variety of fields the question of closer cooperation, including triangular transatlantic cooperation, was explored. Mr Amorim acknowledged the possibilities for closer cooperation but dismissed anything that could resemble NATO. He said that Brazil preferred other organisations such as the Defence Council of Unasur. Existing Zopacas, it is not clear how NATO would fit into the picture. He explained that Brazil had contributed somehow to help in Guinea Bissau and had supported institution building in Haiti, but of course, the issue of financing had to be taken into account since Brazil is still a developing country, with internal pressures to use its resources to finance its own development. He saw possibilities for cooperation in some countries but concluded that Brazil needed to be very selective.

9. Meeting with Ricardo Schaefer, State Secretary at the Ministry for Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

The discussion touched the possible application of discriminatory tax measures on chemical products based on the local content. Brazilians explained that they could provide background information on the issue but that it was important to note that Brazil has made an important effort in reducing tariffs benefiting EU exporters. Furthermore, Brazilian chemical producers were also seriously affected by

3 Mr Pinheiro is also Chair of the UN's International Commission of Inquiry for Syria and former UN special rapporteur for Myanmar and Burundi.

5 non-tariff barriers in Europe upon introduction of the REACH4. For Mr Schaefer the common view of Brazil as a protectionist country is wrong and expects the EU rewards its recent liberalising effort by submitting an ambitious offer in the framework of the Mercosur negotiations. Regarding these negotiations, momentum exists after the Santiago de Chile summit. Within the current European Commission, President Barroso is pushing for the deal. Mr Schaefer confirmed that Brazil is also pushing for the deal. By the end of May an internal draft of the offer should exist (one more ambitious than the one presented in 2004) and afterwards this would be discussed with Mercosur partners. On liberalising agricultural products, it was explained that similar problems had existed in the past with negotiation of similar agreements but the EP has always been in favour of an agreement with Mercosur and all Members States have backed the negotiating mandate. An important issue is the timing: the current European Commission's term is coming to an end and negotiations with the US risk overlapping. It was also mentioned that a possible agreement should have a scope wider than only trade aspects.

10. Meeting with Brazil´s former President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva

Mr Da Silva showed interest to know the point of view of each member of the delegation on the current situation in Europe, according to their nationality and political affiliation. He expressed his appreciation for having MEPs in Brazil and added that the Europeans should be careful to prevent the crisis from destroying all the good brought about by the EU. He praised the EU for its defence of democratic values and said that it was a model for the entire world. He admitted that a global world poses challenges for local governments. In the current economic context, politicians should discuss more about the crisis. For example, he showed concerned on issues such as the current value of the Euro and the storm in financial markets caused by the situation in Cyprus and criticized speculative movements of money in financial systems. He explained that the development of markets is a key element for growth and referred to Germany´s reunification and Brazilian programme “bolsa Familia”, which added 40 million consumers to Brazil´s domestic demand. Europe should be keen on developing external markets. According to Mr Da Silva, politicians should take the lead and take decisions that help countries tackle the current economic slowdown.

4 REACH is the European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (EC 1907/2006), which deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances (The law entered into force on 1 June 2007).

6 A N N E X 1.

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO BRAZIL 2 April - 5 April 2013

Final Programme

Tuesday, 2 April 2013, Brasilia Local time Brasilia: - 5h from Brussels

Arrival in Brasilia of individual members of the delegation Stay at: Golden Tulip Brasilia SHTN Trecho 1, Conj. 18, Bloco C 70 800 200 Brasilia

Wednesday 3 April 2013, Brasilia

09h00 Briefing with Ms Ana Paula Zacarias, Head of the EU Delegation, Mr Francisco Fontan Pardo, Deputy Head of Delegation, Mr Simone Pieri, Head of Political, Economic and Press Section, Mr Juan Victor Monfort, Head of Trade Section and Mr Jerome Poussielgue, Head of Cooperation Section. Hotel Golden Tulip Brasilia Business Room B 10h30 Meeting with the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies Chairman – Nelson Pellegrino, MP Câmara dos Deputados, Annex II, Plenary room 3 Contact – Edison Holanda 61.3216-6739

11h30 Meeting with Senator Renan Calheiros,President of the Senate and Senator Ricardo Ferraço, Chairman External Affairs Committee in Senate Senado Federal, President's Office. Contact: Cláudia Martins, 9975 6163, 3303 5161

12h00 Meeting with MP André Vargas, acting President of the Chamber of Deputies (1st VP) Chamber of Deputies; President's Office Contact Lúcio Reiner, 55.61.3215-8062/9202-3795

7 Lunch Working lunch with representatives of Chamber of Deputies Restaurant of the Chamber of Deputies Câmara dos Deputados, Annex IV, 10th floor Contact Lúcio Reiner, 55.61.3215-8062/9202-3795

15h00 Meeting with Marco Aurélio Garcia, President's special advisor on International Affairs Planalto Palace, 3rd floor, room 315 Contact: - Egmar Dantas, 3411-1184. 17h00 Meeting with Antonio Patriota, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of External Relations, Itamaraty Palace - 2nd floor Contact – Luis Galvão 2030 8720, 8119 4602

19h30 Reception with EU Ambassadors and Brazilian guests at the EU Residence EU Residence Lago Sul SHIS, QL 22, conjunto 9, casa 20

Thursday, 4 April 2013, Brasilia/Sao Paulo

09h00 Meeting with Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Member of the National Truth Commission, Chair of the UN's International Commission of Inquiry for Syria, and former UN special rapporteur for Myanmar and Burundi Comissão Nacional da Verdade, CCBB, portaria 3, 2º andar Contact – Paula Ballesteros tel 61.3313 7306, 9645 3070

10h30 Meeting with Mr Celso Amorim, Defence Minister Ministry of Defence Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco O

12h00 Meeting with Ricardo Schaefer, State Secretary at the Ministry for Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Ministry of Development, Industry and External Trade Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco J – 8th floor, room 801 Contact – Poliana 2027 7042/1

13h00 Lunch with CNI – National Confederation of Industry (see annex 2) Confederação Nacional da Indústria – CNI SBN - Quadra 01 - Bloco C - Ed. Roberto Simonsen Contact - Alinne B. Oliveira, 61 3317 9702, 8105 6112

8 15h00 Press conference at EU delegation SHIS QI 07- Bloco A, Lago Sul Contact – 2104 3122

16h30 Flight Brasilia / Sao Paulo (JJ 3717 17h20-18h52) 20h30 Dinner with selected group of business representatives (see annex 2) Hotel Renaissance Alameda Santos, 2233 - Jardim Paulista São Paulo, 01419-002, Brazil

Friday, 5 April 2013, Sao Paulo

08h30 Chair of Delegation Breakfast interview with journalist Joe Leahy (Financial Times) 12h30 Lunch with and academics and former politicians (see annex 2)

15h00 Meeting with Brazil´s former President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva from 17h00 departures of individual members of the delegation

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9 A N N E X 2.

Lunch with CNI, the National Confederation of Industry (Brasilia). CNI is an organization supported by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex- Brazil). It comprises twenty-seven Industry in the states and Federal District, over a thousand associated employers unions and almost 100,000 industrial establishments. CNI is the voice of Brazilian industry, a highly active organization with the mission of defending and representing industry, for example, on proposals that, being deliberated in the National Congress, are of interest to the industrial sector. It hosted the latest EU-Brazil business summit, in January 2013. Lunch took place with the presence of Mr. Carlos Mariani, Director of CNI, Coordinator of CEB (Brazilian Business Coalition), Vice Chairman of FIRJAN ( of Industry from the State of ), Chairman of Mercosur EU Business Forum; Mr. Carlos Eduardo Abijaodi, CNI Director for Industrial Development, and Ms. Soraya Rosar, Executive Manager for International Negotiations. The discussion focused on the fields in which the EU and Brazil could increase their trade and investment ties. Members discussed the difficulties that companies from both sides of the Atlantic face when they want to grow internationally in Brazil and the EU and how could these obstacles be removed. They also discussed similar topics raised with Mr Schafer, especially Brazilian authorities´ intention to apply tax discriminatory measures in favour of products with local content in the chemical sector. They also touched progress for a Mercosur Association Agreement and CNI´s view.

Dinner with selected group of business representatives (Sao Paulo). These business representatives included Mr. Weber Porto (Director-President for Latin America of Evonik Industries, President of the Chamber of Commerce Germany), Mr. Louis Bazire (President of BNP Paribas Brasil, President of Chamber of Commerce France, Vice President of Eurochambers) and Mr. Pedro Riviere, (Secretary General Telefónica-VIVO). The discussion focused on the business environment in Sao Paulo, which output makes it one of the biggest economies in the world. Members discussed the impressions they had got from the meetings in Brasilia about specific issues such as the progress for a Mercosur Association Agreement and asked business representatives about the view of European companies based in Brazil for such a deal.

Lunch with academics and former politicians, Mr. Ricardo Ubiraci Sennes and Mr. Celso Lafer (Sao Paulo). Mr Ubiraci Sennes is general coordinator of the Group of International Situation Analysis (GACINT) at USP (Universidade de Sao Paulo). He is specialist in policy scenarios in Brazil and Latin America as well as in international geo-political issues, innovation policy, strategic planning. He is a regular analyst at Globo TV and a speaker at events in Brazil and abroad. Mr Lafer is a Brazilian jurist, professor of philosophy of Law at University of Sao Paulo, he worked for the administrations of Collor de Mello as Foreign Affairs Minister and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, as Foreign Affairs Minister and Commerce Minister. He is member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, Professor of Philosophy of Law at university of Sao Paulo and President of Foreign Affairs PESP (Fundaçao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo), a Financial Aid Institute for Research of Sao Paulo State. Topics discussed during the lunch were the current economic and political situation in Brazil, the government’ s strategy to develop the process of reindustrialisation of the country (and consequent reduction of dependence on commodities) based on high technological contents and innovation, education as a major priority of the current government, the relationships between the central Government and the State of Sao Paulo, the Foreign Affairs topics discussed in Brasilia, and the Mercosur bloc and prospects for an Association Agreement with the EU.

10 A N N E X 3.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

MEPs Group Country

Elmar BROK (Chair) EPP Germany

José Ignacio SALAFRANCA EPP Spain

Francisco MILLAN MON EPP Spain

Ana GOMES S&D Portugal

Jelko KACIN ALDE Slovenia

Pawel KOWAL ECR Poland

Abbreviations of the political groups:

EPP Group Group of the European People's Party (Christian ) in the European Parliament S&D Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament ALDE Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Greens/EFA Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament ECR European Conservatives and Reformists Group GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left EFD Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group

Secretariat of the Committee on Foreign Affairs:

Silvio GONZATO, Head of Unit Fernando GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, Administrator

Staff from Political groups:

Jesper HAGLUND, EPP Group Rune GLASBERG, ALDE Group

Interpreters:

Peter A. SHEPPERSON, Team leader Margarida ALVIM Ross J. NOBLE Maria Angela FERRARI

11 FURTHER INFORMATION: Secretariat of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Mr Silvio GONZATO, Head of Unit Tel: +32 498 98 1330 e-mail: [email protected]

Mr Fernando GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, Administrator Tel: +32 2 284 20 32 e-mail: [email protected]

Ms Elena COLLADA DE LARA, Assistant Tel: +32 2 28 31353 e-mail: [email protected]

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