Brazilian technical mission to Brussels: Advancing EU-Brazil alignment on digital regulation

On the first day, the Brazilian delegation met with the staff of Brando Benifei, a member of the European Parliament who played a central role in negotiating the EU’s AI Act. The discussion highlighted the main challenges faced by the EU in implementing the AI Act, particularly enforcement capacity, delays in defining high-risk standards and unequal levels of readiness among member states.

Concerns about the complexity of regulations

The Brazilian delegation also met with DG CONNECT (Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology), the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), DIGITALEUROPE, the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) Europe and the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers Association in Europe (CISPE).

Regarding regulation of digital matters, the European associations raised concerns about the complexity and overlap of EU digital regulations, noting a negative impact on product launches and compliance efforts. The Brazilian delegation shared that creating interoperable frameworks is a priority for the Federal Government, as well as enabling innovation while ensuring compliance with proportionate obligations.

Strengthening EU-Brazil cooperation

On the second day in Brussels, the delegation met with the European AI Office to discuss support mechanisms for AI, like sandboxes and real-world testing, as well as High Performance Computing (HPC). The meeting culminated in a commitment to strengthen EU-Brazil cooperation on aligning data and AI regulations and supporting sandboxes.

They also met with the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) & the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), discussing how Brazil’s regulatory framework is aligned with the EU framework. Although Brazil's approach is conceptually aligned with EU models, it is adapted to local needs. They also exchanged views on data spaces and agreed that they need clear business incentives, interoperability, and voluntary cooperation for success.

Exchange on digital governance and mobility data regulation

In Lisbon, the Brazilian delegation met with Hélder Sousa Silva, member of the European Parliament, to discuss digital governance. Sousa Silva emphasised the importance of trust and continuity in long-term EU-Brazil relations, encouraging frank dialogue and deeper cooperation.

Finally, the Brazilian delegation exchanged views with DG MOVE (Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the EU) on European legislation in the field of mobility data. The Brazilian delegation returned home with many insights on practices that can be applied in Brazil as well, and with concrete plans to deepen cooperation between the EU and Brazil.