O DN Brazil is the difficulties faced by highly qualified Brazilian professionals and taking these concerns to the competent authorities. Read the full interview.

The agreements reached at the last Summit involve long-term projects between the two countries, which in most cases require more time to mature. Still, I can mention concrete advances in the areas of cooperation in the aeronautical industry, with the delivery of five Embraer Super Tucanos to the Portuguese Air Force, last December; the fight against transnational illicit activities, through joint operations between the Federal Police of Brazil and the Judiciary Police of Portugal, which resulted in important seizures; and mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, in which the agreement signed in 2023 was enacted in Portugal and is also in the process of being approved in Brazil.

The celebration of the Bicentenary of the establishment of relations between Brazil and Portugal, which began last year, is a historic milestone. Fortunately, it takes place at a moment of excellence in bilateral relations, marked by a friendly and productive dialogue and by important convergences in our worldviews and our actions at the multilateral level. The projected entry into force of the MERCOSUR-European Union Agreement later this year opens up great possibilities in the economic-commercial area, which was already highly dynamic. We hope to further deepen the dialogue in the field of free movement of people, which although presents challenges, has also been marked by frank and regular exchange.

The issue of recognition of qualifications continues to be one of the most sought after by the Brazilian community here, which is highly qualified, but faces access difficulties. Is the topic under discussion between the two countries?

The recognition of academic and professional qualifications is a priority topic in the bilateral dialogue between Brazil and Portugal and has been discussed regularly with the Portuguese authorities. The Embassy has closely monitored the difficulties faced by highly qualified Brazilian professionals and raised these concerns with the competent authorities. The topic was the subject of specific technical meetings and is part of the agenda of the bilateral Subcommittee on Education and Recognition of Degrees and Academic Titles, in addition to appearing in the declarations of the most recent Luso-Brazilian Summits.

In recent years, there have been important advances in the institutionalization of technical dialogue, with specific meetings to address topics such as the revalidation of diplomas and the recognition of professional qualifications, especially in the case of teachers and other highly demanded categories. The common objective is to identify solutions that preserve the legal frameworks of each country, but that also promote greater predictability, transparency and speed in processes. It is important to highlight that, in Portugal as well as in Brazil, the recognition of academic degrees and titles involves the autonomy of universities, which have legal competence to conduct equivalence processes. This makes the issue technically complex and requires solutions built in dialogue with different institutional actors.

We have sought to encourage the signing of agreements between universities in both countries, including under the agreement signed in 2012 between the National Association of Directors of Federal Higher Education Institutions of Brazil and the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities to streamline the processes of recognition, revalidation and equivalence of academic degrees.

Yes. The Brazilian government maintains regular dialogue with the Portuguese authorities regarding changes in local legislation relating to immigration, nationality and return. The two governments have maintained contacts at political and technical levels, such as the meeting of the Bilateral Subcommittee on Consular Affairs and Circulation of Persons, in Lisbon, in the second half of last year. Migration issues have been prioritized on the agenda of the main bilateral interactions, such as the meeting between President Lula and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on the sidelines of COP30, in Belém, last November. This dialogue will continue to be deepened, taking into account the significant Brazilian community residing in Portugal and the spirit of cooperation that characterizes the relationship between the two countries.

amanda.lima@dn.pt