Lula meets progressive Latin American, European leaders in Brussels

Among the topics debated were the environment and fighting inequality

Pedro Peduzzi

Published on 18/07/2023 - 11:10

Brasília

Bruxelas (BE) 18/07/2023 - O presidente, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, possa para foto com integrantes da Sessão Plenária da III Cúpula CELAC-UE, em Bruxelas, na Bélgica.
Foto:Ricardo Stuckert/PR — © Ricardo Stuckert/PR

Brazilian President Lula had a breakfast meeting with Latin American and European progressive and democratic leaders organized by former Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven in Brussels this Tuesday (Jul. 18).

The gathering is held simultaneously with the 3rd Summit of the Community of Latin American Countries and the Caribbean (Celac) and the European Union (EU), after which its 60 attending leaders should publish a joint declaration. Talks on a Mercosur–EU deal continue in bilateral meetings.

Progressives

Discussed during Löfven’s breakfast were the defense of democracy, the fight against inequality, the promotion of social welfare, respect for human rights, climate action, and the environment—issues described by the government as points of common interest among the participants.

In addition to Lula, the meeting brought together Presidents Alberto Fernández (Argentina), Gabriel Boric (Chile), and Gustavo Petro (Colombia); Prime Ministers António Costa (Portugal), Mette Fredricksen (Denmark), and Pedro Sánchez (Spain); and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others. Mexico was represented by Foreign Secretary Alícia Barcena.