<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Last week, the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation held its last meeting of its Board of Trustees in 2024 at the Casa de América headquarters in Madrid, in which the importance of the recent EU-Mercosur agreement was highlighted, which will be a “central theme” in the institution's upcoming activities.</strong></h4> The meeting, held on December 11 and the first under the presidency of Iberdrola, was attended by Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of this company in Spain, as well as the State Secretary for Ibero-America and the Caribbean and Spanish in the World, Susana Sumelzo, and the Brazilian ambassador in Madrid, Orlando Ribeiro. By mutual agreement, according to a press release from the Fundación Consejo, the Board of Trustees highlighted the importance of the recent and important EU-Mercosur agreement and agreed that it will be “a central theme in the upcoming activities” of this institution. The Action Plan for 2025 includes the holding of seminars, conferences and other outreach and knowledge activities, such as the usual high-level meetings with Brazilian personalities. It also includes consolidated activities, such as the Spain-Brazil Forum, the Brazilian Leaders Program, permanent institutional activity or the communication platform on bilateral current affairs. Also, during the meeting, the 2024 Activities Report was presented and the incorporation of the University of Salamanca (USAL) as a new member was approved. The FCEB maintains a close and extensive collaboration with the Center for Hispanic-Brazilian Studies of the USAL, whose director, José Manuel Santos, was present at the meeting of the Board of Trustees. Finally, the meeting of the Board of Trustees concluded with the signing of an Agreement with Casa do Brasil, ratified by Mario Ruiz-Tagle and Cassio Romano, director of the Brazilian institution, which aims to increase existing links and the organization and promotion of joint actions.
