Introduction.
"Since Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, the BRICS group has been holding annual summits that consolidate and register each year of activities and developments under its rotating presidencies. The final text of conclusions has been acquiring progressive relevance as important decisions and initiatives are formally announced and, many times, a corresponding schedule of activities is set. This was the case with the nowadays called New Development Bank, lively discussions having started in a historical and very relevant meeting in Delhi, India, in 2012.
Notwithstanding, this year’s meeting, under the Russian presidency, in the historical city of Kazan, surpassed all previous editions. First, four new members, accepted this very year, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates fully participated for the first time. Second, criteria for new, associate memberships, including the condition of not using sanctions against third parties, were established, with – out a list of many requests – thirteen new countries accepted in this first stage. Thirdly, important steps were taken in the key effort to disengage from the US dollar in international transactions of all sorts, together with preliminary initiatives aiming at a Global South –influenced reform of the International Monetary System (IMS).
In a peaceful and constructive atmosphere, in which several bilateral meetings played a key role in driving closer different pairs of members, the summit was masterfully organised and conducted by the Russian hosts. A variety of other thematic initiatives and gatherings took place at the side of the main event.
This Note outlines a few main points and decisions, and elaborates on the why and how the group acquired renewed relevance, with Kazan standing for a game changer in the present world scene."