European Council

Topic: EU-BRICS Relations – A glimpse into the future power dynamics

In the last decades debate has been heated around the BRICS – The intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, India, China and South Africa, and their emerging growing international influence. According to statistics the entity now accounts for 37,3% of global GDP, more than half as such of the EU.

The Union engages with the BRICS individually, however with great importance and interest. For instance, China has been a crucial actor in EU’s trade and at the same time a major competitor in technology, while its close ties with Russia – once regarded as a strategic partner of the EU – shape a complex landscape. On the other hand, the emerging economies of the member states may potentially challenge the position of EU as a global economic giant with an influential presence around the globe.

In this context, the European Parliament has emphasized the necessity for additional political discussions with the BRICS nations. In a dialogue with representatives of the European Commission in October 2023, members of the Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on the group’s expansion, especially considering the effect of a potential BRICS+ currency and the consequences for EU trade policy.

In the recommendation of 13 December 2023, Parliament recommended that the Council and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) ‘respond adequately to China’s efforts to build alternative international organizations, including the BRICS group of countries, by ensuring better coordination among the EU Member States and intensifying partnerships with like-minded partners around the world’. Moreover, in the resolution of 28 February 2024 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy, Parliament highlighted the need for the EU and its Member States to increase dialogue and cooperation with some BRICS+ members to counter Russia’s malign actions and China’s rising global influence. According to the HR/VP’s reply to a parliamentary question of 18 October 2023, the Commission monitors BRICS and its expansion, but it also sees the group’s ‘ability to promote consistent and convergent action in international fora’ as limited.

While BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa— could pose a potential challenge to the EU’s global position, their rising economic and political clout could reshape international dynamics, especially in trade, diplomacy, and governance. In this context, the European Council must assess whether BRICS poses a direct threat or if it presents opportunities for cooperation in addressing global challenges like climate change, security, and economic stability, taking into consideration the political landscape, geopolitical tensions, and previous EU Commitments in the field of human right violations and alignment with international law.

Heads of State shall engage in deep discussion on future dynamics considering specifically, trade, Research and – technology, and foreign investments – especially in Africa which is targeted by both entities, exploring potential opportunities, dependencies, the level of importance that the role of BRICS could play in the future EU energy plans, etc. – all of which must be addressed in the light of Russian and Chinese interference, aggression and violations of human rights and international law. Will the European Council prefer a balanced approach towards the BRICS, exploiting opportunities but at the same time undermining its commitments towards human rights and the rule of law? If so, will that be possible and effective?