The European Union is intensifying efforts to strengthen digital cooperation with countries such as Brazil and South Korea as it seeks to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology.
The European Commission’s top technology official, Henna Virkkunen, is scheduled to visit Brazil for two days to formally launch a new digital partnership. At the same time, the bloc announced expanded collaboration with South Korea on artificial intelligence during an EU–South Korea summit.
According to Virkkunen, the EU is prioritising partnerships with countries that maintain open markets, support secure digital systems, and commit to rules-based global digital governance.
The move comes shortly after the Commission unveiled its broader “tech sovereignty” strategy aimed at boosting Europe’s capabilities in areas such as cloud computing and semiconductor production. Alongside domestic development, the EU is building international alliances to reduce dependence on American technology.
The bloc already maintains digital partnerships with countries including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Canada, and is now extending the framework to Brazil.
Virkkunen noted that Brazil represents a significant digital market, pointing to its large population of internet users and ongoing investment in technology infrastructure. Cooperation is expected to cover areas such as cybersecurity, data governance, online platforms, connectivity, and child online protection.
She is also expected to promote the EU’s digital agenda at the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the bloc’s large internal market and regulatory stability.
The EU plans to develop a broader network of tech partnerships involving multiple countries outside the United States and China, promoting collaboration on shared digital priorities.
In addition, the EU is advancing digital trade agreements with partner countries. A new agreement with South Korea, signed following negotiations last year, focuses on data transfers, digital security, and tools such as electronic contracts. The EU also intends to deepen cooperation with Seoul on artificial intelligence, particularly in governance, safety, and innovation.
While EU–Asia and EU–Latin America digital ties are expanding, discussions with the United States remain limited. Washington has criticised several EU tech regulations, and structured digital dialogue between both sides has yet to be formalised.
Virkkunen described current EU–US tech relations as “professional,” noting that discussions are ongoing but still lack a clear framework.
