The future Brazilian ambassador in Bucharest, Vitor Candido Paim Gobato, will take office, according to his definition, in a “different” Romania, after the admittance of that country to the European Union, in January 2007.  The indication had a favorable report on Thursday (15) at the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense (CRE) and will now be examined at the Plenary.   

– We are experiencing a good moment in our bilateral relationship, but the mission of improving it is still a challenge, as Romania becomes a member of the European Union – stated Gobato.  

According to the ambassador, 32 billion euros, proceeding from European funds, will be destined to Romania, throughout the next seven years. The measure, already adopted by the European Union in countries such as Portugal and Spain, intends to reduce inequalities among the new and the old partners of the continental entity.

The ambassador anticipated that an agreement on economic cooperation between Brazil and Romania is already being negotiated. When it is implemented, the agreement will allow bigger interchange in areas such as ethanol production. Gobato also affirmed that there is a proposal to use Constance port, in Romania, as a distribution center for Brazilian goods in Eastern Europe.

The bilateral trade balance has been widely favorable to Brazil over the last years. On 2005, the Brazilian exports to Romania reached US$ 300 million while the imports totaled US$ 16.2 million.

During the meeting, senator Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB-MG) revealed concern to the fact that the majority of the Brazilian exports are primary products. In response, the nominated ambassador said that the long period that Romania was part of the old Soviet block – from the end of the Second World War until 1989 – would have affected the Brazilian entrepreneurs’ confidence.    

The message of the ambassador’s indication had as rapporteur senator Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB-PE).

Still at the meeting, a petition from senator Arthur Virgílio (PSDB-AM) was approved. It claims for a public hearing to discuss the report from the Amazon Work Group, which is composed of representatives from several governmental organisms. The document points risks of “foreign domination” in the region.