EU-Mercosur: President Costa to travel to Brazil and Paraguay

 

Press material Wednesday, 14 January 2026

● European Council   14/01/2026 18:22 | Press release | EU-Mercosur: President Costa to travel to Brazil and Paraguay   The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the EU-Mercosur signature ceremony in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 January 2026. Ahead of the ceremony, on 16 January, President Costa and President von der Leyen will visit Rio de Janeiro to meet President Lula of Brazil. EU-Mercosur signature After 25 years of negotiations, on Saturday 17 January the European Union and Mercosur agreements will be signed in Asunción, Paraguay, with President Costa and President von der Leyen participating. This step follows the adoption by the Council on 9 January of two decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and of the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) between both sides. This is an important milestone in the EU’s long-standing relationship with Mercosur partners – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – which reflects the European Union commitment to building partnerships across the globe to diversify trade and reaffirm a rules-based multilateral order. “The approval of the European Union–Mercosur Agreement, creating the largest free trade zone in the world, is excellent news for both sides of the Atlantic. It will bring real benefits for European citizens and businesses, boost the EU’s sovereignty and strategic autonomy, and shape the global economy in line with our shared values. It will strengthen workers’ rights, environmental protection, and safeguards for European farmers, demonstrating that rules-based trade partnerships are win-win. More than 700 million people will benefit from the EU-Mercosur Agreement. Europe is open for business, and building bridges towards shared prosperity with our global partners.” — António Costa, President of the European Council Official visit to Brazil Ahead of the signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur agreements in Asunción, President Costa, together with President von der Leyen will visit Brazil for a trilateral meeting with President Inácio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a key partner for the European Union on trade, investment, climate, multilateralism, the rules-based order, democracy, and human rights. The latest Brazilian presidency of Mercosur was crucial to advance the negotiations of the European Union-Mercosur agreement, paving the way to its signature later this week in Paraguay. This official visit will reinforce this strong alliance and further strengthen the bilateral relationship. Press opportunities in Brazil and Paraguay After the trilateral meeting in Brazil between President Costa, President von der Leyen, and President Lula, the leaders will deliver press statements at around 13.30 local time [17.30 CET], followed by a family photo planned for 13.55 [17.55 CET]. The event will be live-streamed on social media and the EBS. The signing ceremony in Asunción, Paraguay will start at 13.00 local time [17.00 CET] on Saturday, 17 January 2026. It will be followed by a family photo around 14.00 [18.00 CET] and a press conference at around 14.20 [18.20 CET]. The events will be live-streamed on EBS. Background The agreements will establish a framework for political dialogue, cooperation, and trade relations within a modernised and comprehensive partnership. The agreements will require the consent of the European Parliament before they can be formally concluded by the Council. Ratification by all EU member states will also be required for the EMPA to enter into force. More information: EU-Mercosur: Council greenlights signature of the comprehensive partnership and trade agreement (press release, 9 January 2026) EU-Mercosur trade: facts and figures (background information) Brazil has been a strategic partner of the EU since 2007. The EU is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner and its largest foreign investor, with over €300 billion in direct investment stocks. Since President Lula took office in 2023, EU-Brazil ties have gained new dynamism, with both revived and new political and sectoral dialogues on climate, energy, digital transformation, security, and public health. The conclusion of negotiations of the EU-Mercosur Agreement has added further impetus to the relationship. The EU and Brazil also cooperate closely in the UN and the G20, within the framework of the EU-CELAC summit, and through new initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the G20 coalition for regional vaccine production. President Costa recently met President Lula in November 2025 in the margins of the COP30 in Brazil, and at the EU-CELAC summit in Colombia. More information: COP30 climate summit, Belém, Brazil, 6-7 November 2025 EU-CELAC summit, 9 November 2025   Visit the website

● General Secretariat of the Council

Think Tank reports on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine   How to defend Europe and Ukraine from Russia’s hybrid energy war; the perspectives towards the end of Ukraine's ordeal or into a new nightmare; if the Ukraine peace deal is a strategic trap; Ukraine’s regional shift from the point of view of realignments in wartime and beyond; and how Europe and Ukraine can improve defence industrial collaboration are some of the topics dealt with in the present update.   Read full post ● Council of the EU   14/01/2026 14:51 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20 January 2026   The Cyprus presidency will present its work programme in the field of economic and financial affairs. As part of the European semester 2026, the Council is expected to approve conclusions on the 2026 alert mechanism report. Ministers will also be invited to adopt a decision and a recommendation under the excessive deficit procedure.   View meeting page ● European Council   15/01/2026 11:45 | Press release | President Costa to travel to India for a high-level summit on 27 January 2026   The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will travel to India to represent the EU in the 16th EU-India Summit, scheduled to take place on 27 January. The two Presidents will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for a summit aimed at building on the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthening collaboration across key policy areas. Trade, security and defence, the clean transition and people to people cooperation will top the agenda of the discussions.    “India is a crucial partner for the EU. Together, we share the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order. This meeting will be a key opportunity to build on our partnership and drive progress in our cooperation.” — António Costa, President of the European Council As guests of honour, Presidents Costa and von der Leyen will also participate in India’s 77th Republic Day Parade celebrations on 26 January. This will mark the first time the leaders of the European Union have attended Republic Day Parade celebrations as guests of honour, signalling the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the EU and India. In October 2025, the Council of the EU endorsed the new strategic EU-India agenda, and its objective of further developing EU-India ties. In so doing it placed specific focus on prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues. New strategic EU-India agenda: Council approves conclusions (press release, 20 October 2025)   Visit the website