The EU should do more to embrace Brazil’s world view

The EU should do more to embrace Brazil’s world view

Paweł Świeboda
Commentary

„The EU fits twice on the map of Brazil“, says a government official in Brasilia, to reflect the country’s longing for parity status with the old cousin. When the EU proposed a strategic partnership in 2007, views in Brazil were divided. A lot of people had doubts. Their perception has been that the EU acts as one, when it finds it convenient. In the meantime, Brazil has been negotiating with the EU as part of the Mercosur for years with no clear end-result in sight. A dislike for the EU formed  from the preaching tone it was seen as adopting in those negotiations. Elsewhere, people have seen hypocricy, especially given that Brazil’s interface with the EU is often the Common Agricultural Policy which has little to do with the liberal economic norms Europe tries to promote.

The larger problem is that the EU remains faithful to the world view which is an inside-out version of itself. The European Commission finances the Mercosur secretariat, hoping to inspire an EU-alike type of process in Latin America. For the Brazilians, this is a sign of good intentions which will not work. „Your institutions did a trick for you but it does not mean they will work for us“ – says one of them. Brazil herself has a particular angst against delegating sovereignty, as the biggest country in Latin America. They are aware of the fact that countries in Europe were roughly equivalent. „But in Latin America, it is not the case“.

Adapting its strategy, the EU should understand better Brazil’s world view and fine-tune its set of objectives and language accordingly. At the centre of that world view lies the spacious concept of „open multipolarity“ which is about equality of opportunity. Multilateralism for Brazil is a set of rules to ensure it would not be bullied by great powers. In today’s world, „there are different non-exclusive groupings“ – say Brazilian officials. Countries which form a coalition on climate change are not the same that will work together on human rights. Multiple geometry is necessary.

In Brasilia, there is genuine fascination with the BRICS. Membership in the group is seen as profoundly liberating. „BRICS is the most important thing that happened to Brazil“. „There is beauty in the concept“ –  probably the only case in diplomatic history of a political platform created on advice of an economist. Stimulus for the group lies in diversity. In line with that perception, Brazil concentrates on the positive aspects, downplaying problems. It sees itself as a country which benefited hugely from the rise of China. Brazil sells commodities while Mexico has had to fight a tough battle as a direct competitor to China in manufacturing. The nature of the relationship with China is still an open question. Brazil wants to shape it as a partnership but the way to sort out this arrangement is a long and twisted one since China is after controlling everything. „China is a mystery to us. But being a mystery, it is even more important to be close to them“.

Investing in the BRICS, Brazil jealously guards its room for maneouvre. Its diplomats joke that the country is so non-aligned that it did not even join the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War and was happy sitting in the room as an observer. „We only align with ourselves“, says one. BRICS is about coordinating positions where they are pretty close anyway – like on the reform of financial regulation or the IMF, currency swaps and other mechanisms to protect against shake-ups in the future. All this means that when Brazilians hear from the Europeans as they did from one Ambassador: „you are growing but you are growing to the wrong side“ – they take an issue with it.

The crisis has been an important opportunity for Brazil. G20 was convened at the top level upon the initiative of the old powers, beginning to understand that the system needs to change. Brazil had a role in requesting reform of the international financial architecture. It joined the Basel Committee, the Financial Stability Board, the International Accounting Standards Board which used to have practically no emerging country representative.

At the same time, its sense of responsibility grows slowly and should be more actively encouraged by the EU. In the financial area Brazil offered additional resources to IMF in 2009, and then in 2012. It has also launched, together with the US, an open government initative with more than 30 countries participating. However, in more tangible terms, it has not more than a frigate in the Lebanon as part of the UN Interim Force and some troops in Haiti. There is ample space to do more for „open multipolarity“.

The EU is making a big effort in Brazil. It has an excellent ambassador and works hard on visibility with visits of numerous commissioners. There are over 30 dialogues on a vast array of issues, from IPR to science and technology. Even if tangible results are not always clear on the surface, it works on lines of communication with the government and civil society. There are issues on which the EU will not compromise. Human rights have to be important in relations with a country that is plagued by the highest in the world level of violence against women. However, the EU also needs to understand the pains of growing which Brazil has to endure. Its global ambitions are part of that picture.