One of the main objectives of the visit to Brazil initiated by European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, in 3 April 2011, focused in reaching better policy cooperation in higher education and culture. This visit represents the launch of EU-Brazil policy dialogues on higher education and culture, whose results will also feed into the next EU-Brazil summit, due to take place in Brussels in October.

Commissioner Vassiliou meetings in Brasilia with Ministers Buarque de Hollanda and Haddad had formally marked the launch of the policy dialogues between the European Union and Brazil which will lead to the creation of specific fora for policy-makers and professionals, focused on jointly agreed priorities in higher education and culture.

As regards higher education, the Commission wants to make it easier for students and academics to move between the EU and Brazil for study and work, and to encourage cooperation between universities. This is seen as crucial for driving quality and fostering excellence in a competitive international environment.

Since 2004, more than 1,700 Brazilian students and scholars have had the opportunity to study and work in Europe through the Commission's Erasmus Mundus programme, which supports joint Master and Doctorate programmes. More than 40 Brazilian research institutions and 32 individual researchers have also received financial backing totalling 1.6 million euro through the Commission's Marie Curie Actions, which support international exchanges for researchers.

Furthermore, regarding cooperation in the field of culture, the new policy dialogue will aim to boost the development of stronger cultural and economic ties, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage. Commissioner Vassiliou will meet representatives of the European Union National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) in Brasilia, while in Rio she will visit the National Arts Foundation (FUNARTE) and National Cinema Agency (ANCINE). The latter could benefit from support through the Commission's MEDIA Mundus programme which aims to encourage international cooperation in the cinema industry.

On the final day of her visit, Commissioner Vassiliou will visit the historical centre of Salvador, which has received 200,000 euro for restoration work from the EU Culture programme, and an EU funded social project in the field of education and culture.

The visit will also highlight EU-backed youth and sport projects, with an educational and social dimension. Whilst in Rio, for instance, the Commissioner will visit the "Citizenship for Sports" scheme run by the Real Madrid Foundation. This provides sports and education opportunities aimed at instilling positive values in teenage boys and girls from under-privileged backgrounds.