Brazil's government expressed yesterday its worry over the approval of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum signed by the justice ministers of all EU member countries on Thursday.

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE) considered that the agreement represents a worrying escalation of measures taken in Europe, which reinforces a negative view on migration, allows control procedures to be arbitrary, and violates human rights.

The MRE statement reaffirmed the Brazilian government's official attitude on the agreement, which was first announced in June. The Brazilian government regretted European countries' unfavorable perception towards immigration and stressed that its effects are contrary to a more ample coexistence between the peoples.

"Brazil generously and without discrimination welcomed millions of foreigners, mostly Europeans," the MRE stated, "Brazil hopes that the EU countries, when deliberating about the Pact in the Council of European Union's October meeting, would take into consideration their own historical experiences and the benefits derived from migrations, avoiding attitudes which create new divisions between emigration and immigration countries."

The Brazilian government stressed its commitment to firmly defend people's freedom of circulation and declared to intensify its efforts to support Brazilian citizens who live abroad.

According to the statement, the Brazilian government will watch carefully any measures which can affect the lives of their citizens.

Brazil has been having some troubles about the treatment that Brazilian citizens have received in some European countries. In February, relations between Brazil and Spain were strained by the deportation of several Brazilian citizens who were trying to enter Spain.

At that time, the Brazilian government considered the deportation unjustified and the Brazilian citizens' treatment by the Spanish authorities excessively harsh.