Brasília – The economic and social progress made by Brazil over the last few years are attracting the world’s attention. The assessment was made by the Spanish politician Luis Yáñez, who chairs the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Mercosur countries. High-spirited, Yáñez defined the world’s relations with Brazil as follows: "Brazil is now on fashion. The whole world wants to be like it."
Since the start of this week, Yáñez and a group of European parliament members are in Brasília to negotiate the free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur. The politician praised the first actions taken by president Dilma Rousseff concerning foreign policy – giving priority to South America, defending human rights and seeking investment in the country.
"Brazil carries out an inestimable work in the fight against impunity, against torture, which she [Dilma Rousseff] has already suffered during the dictatorship period, and in enforcing human rights. That has an effect abroad, most of all in Latin America," said Yáñez, adding that the country plays a key role in the development and the quest for peace and dialogue in the world.
To Yáñez, the fact that Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 is even more proof of the importance that the country has attained in the international scenario. "This is not an act of chance or a passing fad, it is the fruit of 20 years of effort and a combination of factors," he said.
The European congressman warned, however, of the risk of accommodation and excessive confidence on the eves of the two sports events, claiming that such reactions may be harmful. "The country has taken a giant step over the last few years, but it must not get too confident [for judging itself too able]. The day the Brazilians believe everything has been done, it will be the start of a new period of decadence," he stated.
Yánes added that "although millions of people have made it out of extreme poverty, there is still poverty. Even though the country has fought violence and insecurity, there is still violence and insecurity. Everything has not been done."
The Spanish congressman stated that the World Cup and the Olympics must be regarded not only as a challenge in the sports field, but as means to boost the economy and modernize sectors that are still bottlenecks. "It is a challenge that must be taken on by society so it may go further."
To Yáñez, the world no longer sees Brazil as just having future potential, now it is seen as present reality. "People do not talk about Brazil as an underdeveloped country anymore. It does have problems, but it is much more dynamic now."
According to the European parliament member, Brazil boasts a "project for a country" that is being built progressively. "When you speak to directors of media vehicles, businessmen, union leaders, politicians of the opposition or the government, they will all tell you what type of country they are building, and they will tell you very similar things."
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
