EU/Brazil Agreement: amending EU/Brazil Agreement on short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, service or official passports

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil amending the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil on short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, service or official passports.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The agreement provides for visa-free travel for EU citizens holding valid diplomatic or service/official passports and for Brazilian citizens holding valid diplomatic or service/official passports when travelling to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of 90 days in any period of 180 days.

Brazil and the EU share a long-standing relationship based on strong cultural, historical, political and economic ties based on shared core values. More recently, the European Union and Brazil have cooperated closely since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020 with Brazil assisting with the repatriation of thousands of stranded, non-resident EU citizens at the onset of the crisis.

The new visa waiver agreement will enable citizens not only to derive full benefit from the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership but continue to participate in it by travelling at a reduced, economical and practical cost under a clearer and more coherent legal framework. The amending agreement on the waiver of short-stay visas for holders of ordinary passports and for holders of diplomatic, service or official passports constitutes simultaneously a culmination of the deepening of relations between the European Union and Brazil.

The amending visa exemption will continue sending out a positive message of support for the country.