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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13788
Contents Publication in full By article 16 / 22
NEWS BRIEFS / Brazil

EU and Brasilia close to bilateral agreement on critical raw materials, according to Ursula von der Leyen

16/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 16 January in Rio de Janeiro, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union and Brazil were moving “towards a very important political agreement on critical raw materials”. “This agreement will frame our cooperation on joint investment projects in lithium, nickel and rare earths,” she added after a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In her view, this agreement is “key” for the digital and ecological transitions and “for strategic independence in a world where minerals tend to become an instrument of coercion”. Mrs von der Leyen promised that the European offer would “always be different” from what other countries could offer, because it would also be “win-win” for local communities and would respect the “highest standards” in terms of transparency and respect for the environment. (MB)

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: European Commission relaunching work on cybersecurity certification schemes by revising Cybersecurity Act
HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission to begin negotiations with United States at end of January on their Visa Waiver programme’s new security requirements
HOME AFFAIRS: Europol signed cooperation agreement with Argentina’s Ministry of National Security to combat organised crime in EU
AGRICULTURE: Cyprus Presidency hopes for an EU Council position on organic farming by end of June
TRANSPORT: Greece and Saudi Arabia wish to submit joint proposal concerning IMO’s net zero framework
TRANSPORT: EMSA believes recommendations on safe transport of alternative fuel vehicles aboard ro-ro ships need to be developed
EXTERNAL ACTION
MERCOSUR: EU prepares to sign EU-Mercosur agreement in Paraguay
CHINA: EU imposes definitive anti-dumping duty on Chinese imports of fused alumina
MIDDLE EAST: EU describes progress of Israel’s E1 settlement project as “serious provocation”
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
Interview HOUSING: “Regulating short-term rentals will have to be done carefully”, says Borja Giménez Larraz, rapporteur for European Parliament’s Committee on Housing
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET/GENDER EQUALITY: Lucia Yar considers inclusion of gender issues in European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets to be “rather positive”, but would like to give them greater visibility
BUDGET: discharge 2024 - European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control examines budget management of other EU institutions
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: European Parliament expected to reject fourth motion of censure on ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission on 22 January
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY/DEFENCE: ‘SAFE’ instrument - European Commission publishes amounts of pre-financing to be allocated to eight EU countries
TAXATION: OECD agreement on global minimum tax will enable United States to enhance its competitiveness, according to Pascal Saint-Amans
NEWS BRIEFS
BRAZIL: EU and Brasilia close to bilateral agreement on critical raw materials, according to Ursula von der Leyen
COMPETITIVENESS: European trade unions call for public aid to be conditional on social rules under Industrial Accelerator Act
JUSTICE: Roland Wadge is new President of Council of Notariats of European Union for 2026
SEA: global treaty on ocean conservation comes into force
DIGITAL: creation of artificial intelligence gigafactories officially approved by EU Council
SECURITY: European Commission gives itself six months to present a new global security strategy for EU
TERRORISM: EU sanctions against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad extended until January 2027