The Committee on the Constitution and Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) approved on Wednesday (5) the Brazil and Germany Agreement on Financial Cooperation, signed on May 14th, 2008. The Rapporteur of the Proposal to Legislative Decree 1619/09, Deputy Chico Lopes (PCdoB—E), explained that the agreement is aimed towards developing the bilateral cooperation concerning the granting of credit facilities, at no charge, from Germany in favor of Brazil.

The agreement includes funds of 40 million Euros (currently corresponding to about R$ 104 million), which will be distributed in the following projects: Sustainable Forest Management in Amazon (15 million Euros); Fund for the Protected Areas in the Amazon (10 million); Trilateral Cooperation. Fight against Aids (5 million) and Protected Areas in Amazon 2 (10 millions).

Flexibility
The text includes the possibility of using the funds for the development of other projects, in accordance with the parties' evaluation, as long as they fit within the purposes of environmental preservation, social infrastructure or of the fund to guarantee loans for medium enterprises or even as measures intended to fight poverty or improving the women's social situation.

Processing
The project is originated from Message 627/08, which was approved by the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defence. The proposal, which is processed under urgency, is still going to be analyzed within the Committee on Finances and Taxation and the Floor of the Chamber.

Reporting – Vania Alves
Edition – João Pitella Junior
Translation - Grupo Solucion-SP Language/Thiago L. Capatti