Brazil is viewed by its Latin-American partners as an important element for continental integration. That is the evaluation of the Deputy Bonifácio de Andrada (PSDB-MG), the Brazilian vice-president of the Latin-American Parliament (Parlatino).

According to that congressman – who chaired the meetings of that body, held on Friday (8), at the Chamber and at the Senate – the consequent political leaderships understand the importance of that integration and of the important role Brazil country has to perform in it.

For Andrada, the opportunity to live among the parliamentary leaderships of the different countries of the region, proportioned by Parlatino, “is an important integration factor, especially for Brazil, which, along its history has had little closeness with Hispanic countries”.

Bonifácio Andrada affirmed that a larger participation of Brazilian congresspeople in international life is necessary. According to him, the politicians are a little too withdrawn from politics in Latin America, and that needs to change.

Joint work
Because of that withdrawal, the deputy stressed the importance of holding meetings of the Committees on Economic Subjects, Social Debt and Regional Development and Development of Political, Municipal and Integration subjects regarding Parlatino in Brazil.

On Friday, the committees decided to work together. They discussed the social-security systems, which include projects on a minimum income and several benefits, related to education, family, and labor.

According to Andrada, that kind of program is currently much disseminated in this continent, and is applied in Bolivia and Venezuela, among other countries.

Alternative energies
The deputy reported that a subject, which attracted the interest of the representatives of other countries, were the alternative energetic policies developed in Brazil, such as the exploitation of vegetal fuels.

The deputy explained that there is no immediate worry with the environmental issue by the other countries, but that they are interested in getting to know the Brazilian experience in that area. Deputy Antonio Carlos Mendes Thame (PSDB-SP) handled that theme, together with the Uruguayan deputy Gustavo Guarino.

Crisis and Globalization
Andrada reported that, in addition to environment, the main worry by the congresspeople is the repercussions of globalization, and, above all, the global financial crisis in the countries.

According to Andrada, many Latin congresspeople informed that their countries already feel the effects of the crisis, although moderately, but that they fear that the situation gets worse.

Science, Technology and Health
Deputy Colbert Martins (PMDB-BA), though, compares the process of Latin-American integration to the one of the European Union, and stresses the importance of the European Parliament among the institutions of that region. For him, in addition to continuing the fight against illiteracy, and for the quality of elementary and higher education in that region, it is necessary to focus on research, digital inclusion and the integration of new technologies. “Digital TV and the globalization of broadband are important factors for regional integration”, affirms the deputy.

Martins also proposed an emergency meeting of the Committee on Health of Parlatino, to debate, not only the flu epidemics, which affected especially Mexico, but also the outbreaks of dengue in Brazil and Venezuela, and the expansion of the mosquito Aedes aegypti – the vector of two important illnesses, dengue and yellow fever – which currently reaches even Argentina.

Benchmarks-laws
Parlatino aggregates congresspeople of 22 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. It is directed by a Joint Governing Board, composed by a president – currently the Chilean senator Jorge Pizarro – and 21 vice-presidents, representing each one of the member-countries.

That entity seeks regional integration, by means of a debate on the problems and the proposition of benchmarks-laws on themes of common interest, which are forwarded to the national parliaments.

Fishing, environment, education, tobacco, and weapons are among the themes which are already the object of benchmarks-laws, as Deputy Vanessa Grazziotin (PcdoB-AM) pointed out. “From the debate of regional political problems emerges a joint opinion, which is very strong”, stressed the deputy.

An example of that way of parliamentary integration is the Law on consumers’ defense, which, based on Brazilian legislation, came to constitute a benchmark-law, which later resulted in several national laws, which are very similar to the Brazilian one.

Report - Vania Alves/Rejane Xavier
Editing - Newton Araújo/ Wilson Silveira
Translation - Positive Idiomas Ltda