The European Union and Brazil are set to deepen their long-standing digital relationship today with the formal signing of a Digital Partnership in Brasília, marking a significant
step forward in bilateral cooperation on technology and digital governance.
The agreement builds on more than 20 years of collaboration between the two sides and is designed to elevate coordination on key areas of the digital economy. These include data governance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and connectivity, online platforms, as well as the development of digital public goods and services.
The partnership will be signed by Henna Virkkunen, European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and Alex Giacomelli da Silva, Brazil’s Secretary for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture.
On the EU side, the initiative is driven through the European Commission, which uses Digital Partnerships as a key instrument in its external digital policy. These frameworks are intended to create structured cooperation with partner countries that share similar values and policy goals in the digital space.
Following the main agreement, a separate administrative arrangement will be concluded between Commission services and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Proteção de Dados. This additional accord will focus specifically on strengthening cooperation in the protection of minors online.
Officials on both sides say the partnership is designed not only to enhance bilateral cooperation but also to contribute to broader global efforts to build resilient supply chains and support a more inclusive, rules-based system of digital governance. A key objective is ensuring that the benefits of technological progress are more widely and equitably shared.
Digital cooperation has already been a central pillar of the EU–Brazil Strategic Partnership. The EU–Brazil Digital Dialogue has served as a longstanding platform for exchanges on digital policy, fostering collaboration on innovation, inclusion, and regulatory approaches while upholding democratic principles, human rights, and digital sovereignty.
A significant milestone in the relationship was reached in January 2026, when both sides adopted mutual adequacy decisions on data protection. These decisions confirmed that the EU and Brazil maintain comparable levels of data protection, enabling the free and secure flow of data between them without additional legal safeguards for businesses, public authorities, or researchers.
Looking ahead, the newly established Digital Partnership will be implemented through regular high-level meetings and technical cooperation workstreams. The first meeting of the Digital Partnership Council is expected within the next year, where officials will set strategic priorities and adopt a joint roadmap for future collaboration.
The initiative is part of the EU’s broader International Digital Strategy, which promotes structured digital cooperation with like-minded partners. Each Digital Partnership is overseen by a dedicated council responsible for steering political direction, monitoring progress, and defining future priorities. Photo by Daniel Eriksson, Wikimedia commons.