BRICS is built on differences, while the EU focuses on deeper integration. A South African expert sees an advantage in flexibility.

According to South African expert Gustavo de Carvalho, BRICS demonstrates that even countries with significantly different interests can cooperate in the long term without having to agree on a unified political view. At the Valdai Discussion Club's anniversary meeting, he contrasted this approach with the deeper integration of the European Union.

Gustavo de Carvalho, who works at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in its program for African governance and diplomacy, stated at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting that one of the strengths of BRICS is the ability of member countries to respect each other's differences.

According to TASS, de Carvalho pointed out the difference between the BRICS model and the European Union. He described European integration as a process aimed at greater unification, while BRICS, according to him, leaves much more room for different positions among individual states.

The structure of these two groups differs significantly. BRICS is an informal coordination mechanism without a founding treaty, its own budget, or a permanent secretariat. Decision-making between member countries is based on consensus. Currently, BRICS has eleven full members, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

De Carvalho cited China and India as an example. Both countries have different geopolitical interests in some areas, but they are still able to cooperate within BRICS. According to the expert, deep differences in opinion do not necessarily diminish the importance of the entire group.

The European Union operates on a different principle. It is based on binding treaties, and member states have delegated part of their powers to it in specific areas. EU law simultaneously establishes the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and the treaties explicitly preserve powers that have not been transferred to the EU, as well as respect for the national identity of member countries.

De Carvalho's comparison is therefore primarily his assessment of two very different models of international cooperation: the more flexible, consensus-based BRICS, and the legally and institutionally much deeper European integration.

His speech was given at the 23rd anniversary meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, which took place from September 28 to October 1, 2026, in the Moscow region. The organizers reported the participation of 120 guests from 40 countries.

Jaroslav Holý