The EU and Brazil have signed a Digital Partnership

Brussels – Brazil and the European Union have become partners in the tech sector: they signed a Digital Partnership today (12 June) in Brasília. The European Commission explained that the partnership “will strengthen EU-Brazil cooperation on shared digital priorities, including data governance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and connectivity, online platforms, and digital public goods and services.”

Digital partnerships such as this one are an instrument of the EU’s external digital policy, “enabling structured cooperation with like-minded countries on shared priorities,” according to the European Commission’s website. Today’s agreement is the fifth digital partnership agreement signed by the European Union, following those signed with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Canada. The initiative comes at a time when Brussels is seeking to reduce its technological dependence on the United States and China and to strengthen cooperation with countries considered reliable. 

The agreement was signed by the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, and by the Brazilian Secretary for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture, Alex Giacomelli da Silva. 

In addition, an administrative agreement was signed by the Commission services and the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Proteção de Dados to strengthen cooperation on the protection of children online. The aim of the partnership is to step up joint efforts to promote efficient and resilient global supply chains and contribute to an inclusive, rules-based global digital governance system. It also aims to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared more equitably at a global level. 

In January 2026, the Commission and Brasília adopted mutual adequacy decisions, confirming that their levels of data protection are comparable. Recognising “the high standards of data protection that safeguard consumers and citizens on both sides,” the Commission wrote, “these agreements allow businesses, public authorities and researchers to exchange data between the EU and Brazil freely and securely, without further requirements.” 

Not only that: digital cooperation has long been a central component of EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, with the EU-Brazil Digital Dialogue enabling partners to step up exchanges in key priority areas and working to promote digital development and inclusion. 

The Commission has stated that the partnership signed today will be implemented through regular high-level exchanges and dedicated technical working groups. Furthermore, “the first meeting of the Digital Partnership Council is scheduled to take place within the next 12 months. It will provide strategic guidance and endorse a joint roadmap for cooperation”.