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In the last few years Brazil has not only increased its overall economic and political weight in the world, but considerably sharpened its profile in the areas of social development and climate change. In a rapidly changing global environment, it is vital for the EU to move with the times and forge a more profound partnership with a country that will belong to the most influential powers in the near future.

Brazil is regarded as a leading power in the area of global health governance. Brazil´s leadership was crucial in the negotiations resulting in the Tobacco Framework Convention, the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO, which entered into force in 2005. In addition, Brazil has been internationally praised for its unique achievements in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Brazil´s own National AIDS Program, launched in 1986, is considered as a role model in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic and has inspired international organizations, trans-national NGOs and a myriad of African and Latin American countries in how to tackle one of the greatest public health challenges of our times. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Brazil has successfully challenged the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Western countries like the US in the fight for cheaper AIDS drugs. In this context, Brazil has become a key player in defending and enforcing the human right to health and a better access to medicines, helping millions of people living with HIV/AIDS all around the world in their fight against the disease.

Brazil has no less distinguished itself in the global fight against hunger and poverty. Here again, Brazil´s own success story in alleviating poverty and hunger within its own borders - based on Brazil´s National Hunger Program Fome Zero, launched in 2003 - has been inspiring a multitude of actors all over the world in advocating a more rights-based approach in the fight against hunger and poverty. Brazil has also become a staunch defender of the human right to food. In the context of its HungerFREE campaign, the South Africa-based NGO ActionAid ranked Brazil as the most successful country worldwide in fighting hunger in 2009 and in 2010. Given these developments, it is no surprise that the main architect of Brazil’s National Hunger Program, José Graziano da Silva, was elected as the new director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

When it comes to tackling climate change, Brazil set clear signs of its new weight in December 2010 during the Copenhagen Climate Summit. It was the emerging powers including Brazil negotiating the final diplomatic breakthrough with the US, while the EU was left at the margins. Apart from Brazil´s new diplomatic clout in climate negotiations, Brazil has been a leading force in the production of ethanol for decades, dominating the global ethanol market along with the US. As one of many results of its ethanol production, Brazil boasts the cleanest energy matrix in the industrialized world with around 45 per cent of its energy generated by water, biomass, ethanol, wind and solar sources. In June 2012, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, the Earth Summit, will take place in Rio de Janeiro, marking a new milestone in the areas of social development and climate change.

Brazil, unlike other emerging powers like China and India, is a country with virtually no enemies, living in peace with all of its ten neighbors. Unlike so many other countries in Latin America, Brazil is a stable and mature democracy. Brazil is on its way to becoming one of the most influential actors on the chessboard of global politics. It is time for the EU to look over the Atlantic and join forces with the most promising power in Latin America.

Markus Fraundorfer is a PhD candidate at the GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg and is writing his PhD thesis about Brazil´s emerging influence in global governance. He holds an MA in International Politics from The University of Manchester.