Brussels, 08/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 November, the EU and Brazil signed two agreements which will allow Europeans and Brazilians to travel to each other's territory without a visa for short stay periods (less than three months). The signing ceremony in Brussels for this agreement was attended by Belgian Secretary of State for Immigration and Asylum Melchior Wathelet, Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström and Brazilian Ambassador Ricardo Neiva Tavares. One of the agreements involves ordinary passport holders and the other applies to diplomatic or official service passport holders. This agreement marks the conclusion of negotiations that began in 2008 and constitutes significant progress with regard to Estonia, Cyprus, Malta and Latvia because their nationals have had to have a visa for travelling to Brazil (EUROPE 10197). The United Kingdom and Ireland are not affected by these agreements. (B.C./transl.fl)