The mission of the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) is responsible for the operational and financial management of budgets under the Foreign Policy Financial Instruments and for adopting and implementing EU Foreign Policy Regulatory Instruments.

FPI supports the achievement of the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy as defined in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, in particular as regards conflict prevention and peace, democracy and the rule of law, human dignity and leveraging the EU’s influence in the world. The Service plays a crucial role in the humanitarian-peace-development nexus and acts as first responder to foreign policy needs and opportunities.

In Brazil, FPI contracts and implements actions under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and the Partnership Instrument (PI), which as of 1 January 2021 have been succeeded by the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). Through the NDICI rapid response and geographic pillars, FPI seeks to optimise catalytic effects: anticipate opportunities for engagement, seize political windows of opportunity and support political processes with pilot actions on the ground, paving the way for more long term actions to be covered through the NDICI geographic pillar.

The initiatives funded in Brazil under FPI are instrumental in underpinning the EU’s policy interests and priorities with concrete actions, including in the areas of environment and climate change, trade and sustainable economic development, human rights, civil society engagement, women empowerment and migrant issues.

Nowadays, a challenge for FPI is to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, make the most of opportunities arising from the recovery process and further improve preparedness for possible similar events. The service will continue contributing to the coordinated response to the pandemic under Team Europe and the COVID-19 angle should be embedded in all activities in the country.

1. Partnership Instrument (PI) / NDICI Support to EU Foreign Policy Needs

As of 1 January 2021, the Partnership Instrument (PI) has been succeeded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

The “Partnership Instrument / NDICI Support to EU Foreign Policy Needs” acts as first responder to foreign policy needs and opportunities, in response to three specific objectives:

• EU interests, values and standards positively impact on decision-making processes in third countries
• Reinforced political partnerships and new alliances strengthening the rules-based multilateral global order
• Strong knowledge and image of the EU abroad as an influential global player and reliable partner

“Partnership Instrument / NDICI Support to EU Foreign Policy Needs” operations also contribute to the Ursula von der Leyen Commission’s general objective of “A stronger Europe in the world”. It encompasses the EU as an external actor in all its dimensions: as a global standard setter, as an actor working for win-win solutions to global challenges, as a reliable partner, as a force driven by values and interests.

Concretely, the “Partnership Instrument / NDICI Support to EU Foreign Policy Needs” supports (trade) negotiations, policy dialogues and political agreements with countries across the globe. It aims to influence decision-making processes in third countries and helps create a level playing field and improve market access for EU operators.

In Brazil, “Partnership Instrument / NDICI Support to EU Foreign Policy Needs” projects are in line with the EU strategic priorities (environment, sustainable economy and trade, responsible business conduct, technology and public diplomacy). The objective is to link consistently ongoing and upcoming projects to the new EU priorities, namely:

• The Green Deal, working on smart and sustainable cities, biodiversity protection, circular economy, low carbon technologies, sustainable management of natural resources,  implementation of the Paris agreement, ocean governance.
• Digital Agenda, focussing on cyber diplomacy and enhancing data protection and international digital cooperation.
• Renewed Multilateralism so to make use of all tools at the EU's disposal, including its extensive political, diplomatic and financial support to promote global peace and security, defend human rights and international law and to promote multilateral solutions to global challenges.

Great attention is given to the EU-Mercosur Agreement, with targeted actions such as the “Legal review and assessment of legislation and institutional capacity of Mercosur countries for the implementation of the Trade Part of the EU- Mercosur Association Agreement”. FPI also works on business and human rights within the Brazilian bid for the OECD, through the launch of the first Responsible Business Conduct Policy Review of Brazil.

On Climate and Environment, many initiatives take place in Brazil. Low Carbon and Circular Economy Business Action in the Americas is one of them, contributing to the reduction of industrial GHG emissions in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and constituting a major operational action in support of an EU Economic Diplomacy. Another important topic is Artificial intelligence, addressed in a global action that includes Brazil setting up a framework for ethics and trust to enable the growth of AI in accordance with universally recognised values.

Through the EU–Brazil Dialogues Support Facility, which caters the needs of different policy objectives, the Delegation implements actions with a top-down approach strengthening the policy dialogues with Brazil. The Public Diplomacy project supports building trust and understanding by engaging with a broader public beyond the governmental relations. Its activities promote EU image and understanding abroad, engaging with key decision-makers and target groups, raising awareness on disinformation and further strengthening positive communication in the world.

The Erasmus programme has been promoted for a closer cooperation between the EU and the Brazilian academic communities. Brazil is the major beneficiary of Erasmus+ in the Americas in terms of scholarships and of cooperation between higher education institutions. Particularly, FPI supports the Jean Monnet academic network in Brazil.

In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the FPI team also works on the reorientation of projects, as in the case of the reinforcement of the regional Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) initiative to decrease the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in public health.

2. Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) / NDICI Rapid Response Pillar / Peace, Stability and Conflict Prevention

As of 1 January 2021, the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) has been succeeded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), notably through its Rapid Response Pillar and the Peace, Stability and Conflict Prevention Thematic Programme.

Actions under the NDICI continue to address new challenges linked to conflict prevention, conflict dynamics, mediation and conflict resolution. The NDICI has been deployed to address crises worldwide, with particular attention paid to Latin America, and to provide assistance for addressing global and trans-regional threats and emerging threats.

By its very nature, the IcSP and its successor strand under NDICI are called upon to operate in various crisis situations. The IcSP swiftly mobilised in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain engaged in responding to its impact, with a particular focus on conflict-affected areas and populations, as well as areas where the pandemic increases the risk of conflict.

In Brazil, very important is the work implemented through the IcSP at the border with Venezuela to improve the protection and socio-economic integration of Venezuelan migrants.