UFRJ - International Conference Latin America,
Brazil and the European Union Extended

Presentation

May 2004 will be known as a milestone of another great transformation in the European Union. Following the Maastricht Treaty and the introduction of the Euro in 2002, ten countries will join the European Union, totalling 25 member countries. It is also expected that Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey will be included as of 2006. Thus, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Letonia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Czech Republic will be joining Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Sweden. A huge consumer market, composed of 500 million people, will be consolidated. This institutional shift will have a decisive impact on the relations within the European Block as well as with the remaining countries and economic blocks outside the European Union.

The aim of the conference organized by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ and to be held on September 2004 is to evaluate the dimensions of the consequences brought about by that new reality, with relation to Latin America and, particularly, Brazil. The conference will focus not only on the economic dimensions of such restructuring, but also – and more importantly – on the new configuration of the geopolitical world scenario in the early years of the 3rd millennium, with respect to diplomatic relations, international politics restructuring, cultural relations and technological, entrepreneurial and academic exchange.

The Conference will last five days and inaugurate a thematic network that shall meet at least once a year. A Latin American country and a member country of the new European Union shall host the meetings in alternate years.