European Council President António Costa plans to propose that leaders of the European Union discuss artificial intelligence (AI) — its development, safety and regulation — as a standalone agenda item at one of the remaining EU summits this year, in October, November or December. Politico reported that preparations have already begun, but no final decision on the agenda has yet been made.
Why this matters
In Brussels there is a growing view that AI is no longer only a technological or regulatory issue. AI affects European competitiveness, national security and geopolitical balances, and several Members of the European Parliament along with more than a hundred experts have urged that the subject be elevated to the highest political level.
What leaders are expected to discuss
If placed on the agenda, discussions will likely go beyond promoting innovation to cover security, ethical and economic questions, and measures to strengthen the European Union’s digital sovereignty. The initiative comes at a time of intensifying competition between the United States and China over AI development and the shaping of technological standards.
Next steps
A final decision on making AI a standalone summit topic will be taken when the agendas for the remaining EU summits are confirmed. Meanwhile, consultations among member-state leaders and experts are continuing to help define a common EU stance and potential policy responses.
