The Denmark should have contributed twelve monthsBut with the crisis this financial poker kick proved loserIt is a well any problem today of Lufthansa stockThe flop of the PS this weekend demonstratedWe have become explorers of unknown landsHe will back its activities in the United States and AsiaIn essence it is does not Keynesian and said happily structuralistThe mass of water to a depth of 90 m is frigidIts success was before all political and mediaThis could in the future scaring some lendersIt is the Brazil that Nicolas Sarkozy has chosen to complete the French Presidency of the European Union. Accompanied by several Ministers, including Bernard Kouchner (Foreign Affairs) and Hervé Morin (defence), and the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the French President meeting today in Rio de Janeiro his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for the second European-Brazil EU Summit. The displayed objective is to provide a practical framework for the strategic partnership concluded in the first edition of this Summit, year last in Lisbon under the Portuguese Presidency.
Europe has any interest in developing ties with the regional leader it is the largest trading partner. Tenth world economic power is becoming, in addition, a leading oil producer, the Brazil displays solid growth for several years (6 in the first half of 2008) and was able to control inflation and debt (reduced to 35 of GDP). Indeed, the country was caught up by the crisis but, even if its growth is divided by two in 2009, health found its economy should allow him to recover.
Cooperation in research or environmental topics are not lacking to give body to this partnership. Europe and the Brazil also intend to prepare the Summit of the g-20 on 2 April. But a series of subjects that get angry are also in the program, starting with the Doha Round trade negotiations. On this burning issue, interests European and Brazilian are divergent. The Brazil is furious that the Director-General of the WTO, Pascal Lamy, has abandoned a meeting before Christmas. Paris therefore wants to search Brasilia of the points of agreement for the resumption of the discussions as soon as the Obama administration will be at the controls.
Another point of tension, the EU directive "back" on the expulsion of undocumented migrants, which has shocked all of Latin America. French-inspired, this directive implies the cooperation of the countries of origin, that Lula is not even hear. Paris attempt everything and extract an agreement in principle.
A strategic alliance
Proud of their climate package, the tandem Sarkozy-Barroso also wants to convince Brazilian President to commit to encrypted objectives for the reduction of greenhouse gases, to which he is not prepared. Similarly, it should not bear that it be the lesson on deforestation in the Amazon, issue of national sovereignty.
The bilateral component of this visit, tomorrow should be on the other hand relaxed. Relations between the two Presidents are good following their meetings in September 2007 in New York and in February last in Guyana, in which they agreed to develop a strategic alliance, which must result in the signing, tomorrow, important contracts in the military field, with technology transfer. They are on sale at the Brazil of 50 helicopters and 4 submarines rockfish, which a party must be built on the spot. Would be also formalized the participation of the France to the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. Beyond, the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy (accompanied by 25 companies, including EADS and Areva) could make progress on other projects such as the supply of Rafale or, in the civil field, the completion of the third Angra 3 nuclear power. AREVA is a favorite, as he bought the nuclear activities of Siemens, who built the first two stations and has designed the third. It may be also question of TGV, longer term, it is hoped in the presidential entourage. What dignity launch the year of the France to the Brazil.
