Today, Prime Minister Reinfeldt, Brazilian President Lula and President of the Commission Barroso met in Stockholm at the EU-Brazil summit. Climate change and energy were the main issues at the meeting and the EU and Brazil agreed to work to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by deforestation. They also agreed to meet soon for a preparatory meeting ahead of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt opened the press conference that concluded the summit.
”Brazil is the world's fifth largest country, both in terms of area and of population. It is also a country that is participating in the international negotiations on climate and global free trade. In short, it is a country with high ambitions. And with global influence comes global responsibility. All this reflects the importance of a close dialogue between the EU and Brazil.”

Opportunity to demonstrate maturity
The upcoming Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was also discussed at the summit.
“We have entered our into the summit conclusions that we are to meet again in November to continue our efforts to reach an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen," said Fredrik Reinfeldt. 
President Lula highlighted the importance of all countries take their responsibility on the climate issue.
“It is with joint forces and only joint forces that we can succeed in Copenhagen. Everybody must take the question seriously and take responsibility for their emissions. Copenhagen is an opportunity to demonstrate maturity.”

The important role of forests
Forests have an important role to play in the fight against global warming as they form the earth’s largest store of carbon dioxide. Twenty per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions arise from deforestation. With the Amazon region, which extends over an area larger than Western Europe, Brazil has an especially important role to play in the preservation of the forests.
”We have agreed to work together to reduce emissions resulting from deforestation. The EU welcomes Brazil’s ambitious national targets. We have, at the same time, encouraged an international commitment on the same scale”, said Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt after the summit.
The Prime Minister also said that the EU and Brazil had agreed on the establishment of a cooperation forum to encourage low-carbon growth and promote clean technology.

Global economy and regional issues
Issues including the situation in the global economy and regional issues were also on the agenda.
”We have spoken about follow-up of the G20 meeting. Brazil is an active and constructive partner in this group. We have also spoken about the importance of continued coordination and the need to establish ‘exit strategies’ and also about the importance of counteracting protectionism”, said Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Exit strategies are principles for returning to balanced public finances in the long term.
Honduras and Iran were among the regional issues discussed at the meeting.

At the press conference, Fredrik Reinfeldt also took the opportunity to present the political agreement that had been reached on visa-free travel between all 27 EU countries and Brazil.