Communication Artificial Intelligence for Europe
European Union · Framework · European Commission
Our summary
A Commission communication outlining the European Union's strategic approach to artificial intelligence. It addresses various aspects of AI development and deployment within Europe. The document sets out the EU's priorities and framework for advancing AI while ensuring alignment with European values and regulations.
Written by the Index in our own words. It is not legal advice; the official text is the authority.
Inside this policy
Every section of this policy in order. Our notes summarise each one in plain language and do not quote the official text, which is the authority.
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8 sections
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1 Introduction, embracing change
Artificial intelligence comprises systems displaying autonomous behaviour by processing surroundings and acting to meet designated objectives, existing in software form (voice assistants, search engines, recognition systems) and embedded in hardware (robots, autonomous vehicles, drones), with applications across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing and transportation. The EU should adopt a coordinated approach based on its strengths in research, industry and data to ensure competitiveness, inclusive digital transformation, and development grounded in EU values and fundamental rights, building on Member States' commitment to working together on AI from 10 April 2018. The European initiative aims to boost technological capacity and AI uptake, prepare for socio-economic changes through education and skills, and establish an ethical and legal framework based on EU values, with the Commission working with Member States on a coordinated AI plan to be agreed by end of 2018.
2 The EU's position in a compet itive international landscape
Private investment in AI across Europe totalled approximately 2.4 to 3.2 billion euros in 2016, substantially less than Asia's 6.5 to 9.7 billion and North America's 12.1 to 18.6 billion, while limited AI and digital technology adoption among European companies, particularly smaller enterprises, poses a competitive challenge despite Europe's strengths in research, industry and robotics production. The EU invested EUR 700 million for 2014-2020 in robotics complemented by EUR 2.1 billion in private co-investment, and EUR 1.1 billion in AI-related research during 2014-2017 under Horizon 2020, with Commission initiatives in electronic components, high-performance computers and quantum technologies.
3 The way forward: an EU initiative on AI
4 sections
This chapter outlines the EU's comprehensive approach to AI across four main pillars: strengthening technological capacity and promoting AI adoption in the economy, preparing society for changes in employment and labor, establishing ethical and legal safeguards, and building collaborative efforts across stakeholders.
3.1 Boosting the EU's technological and industrial capacity and AI uptake across the economy
The EU and its public and private sectors must increase AI investments from EUR 4-5 billion to at least EUR 20 billion by end of 2020, then more than EUR 20 billion annually for the following decade, with the Commission increasing Horizon 2020 investments to around EUR 1.5 billion by end of 2020 for research, innovation, excellence centres and SME adoption. The Commission and European Investment Bank Group aim to mobilise at least EUR 500 million in private investments during 2018-2020 for AI testing and experimentation infrastructures in healthcare, transport, infrastructure inspection, agrifood and agile production, including through the EUR 2.1 billion VentureEU programme and European Fund for Strategic Investments. Beyond 2020, the Commission will upgrade pan-European AI excellence centre networks, fund explainable AI and machine learning efficiency research, establish Digital Innovation Hubs and testing facilities with regulatory sandboxes, support AI adoption across sectors, create a data sharing support centre, and support foundational technologies including high-performance computing and energy-efficient infrastructure, alongside planned updates on public sector information access, commercial and industrial data sharing guidance, scientific information access recommendations, and health data sharing communication.
3.2 Preparing for socioeconomic changes
AI and automation transform the labour market by displacing jobs but can support participation by older and disabled workers, requiring Europeans to be equipped with digital and complementary skills, workers in exposed roles to be supported in transitions, and more AI specialists to be retained in the EU. Unmanaged transformation risks increasing inequalities if workers lack upskilling opportunities and if AI development lacks diverse participation from women, underrepresented groups and people with disabilities. The EU Commission commits from 2018 onwards to establishing retraining schemes for at-risk professions, analysing labour market changes and skills gaps, supporting digital traineeships, encouraging business-education partnerships, and working with social partners on AI's employment impacts including diversity and gender balance in AI roles.
3.3 Ensuring an appropriate ethical and legal framework
AI systems must be developed to enable human understanding of their decision-making basis to increase transparency and reduce bias, grounded in EU fundamental rights and existing regulations on data protection and cybersecurity. The Commission will create draft ethics guidelines by year-end addressing work, fairness, safety, security, inclusion and algorithm transparency with stakeholder input, review existing legal frameworks if necessary, and establish the European AI Alliance to develop ethics guidelines by year-end, while assessing whether EU safety and liability frameworks adequately address AI-enabled products that may act unexpectedly. AI tools in consumer transactions must be fair, transparent and comply with consumer law, with the Commission to issue product liability guidance by mid-2019, publish a safety and liability report by mid-2019, support explainable AI research and algorithmic awareness projects through 2019, and help consumer and data protection organisations understand AI applications.
3.4 Joining forces
Member States are encouraged to develop AI strategies, with 24 Member States and Norway committed to joint action and the Commission coordinating a plan by year-end. The Commission will establish the European AI Alliance as a multi-stakeholder platform involving businesses, consumers, unions and civil society to share practices and encourage AI investment, and will monitor AI uptake across the economy, identify value chain shifts, benchmark technical capabilities and assess progress on the outlined objectives. The Commission commits to work with Member States by year-end on a coordinated plan to align investment impacts and address legal and ethical dimensions.
4 Conclusion
The EU leverages its scientific and industrial base to lead responsible AI development aligned with its values and fundamental rights, supported by EUR 4.8 billion in public-private partnership funding for electronic components and systems, investments through Horizon 2020, and a Strategic Forum for large-scale financing in key value chains. The Commission will apply the Innovation Principle in new regulatory proposals and relies on its ethics advisory body and the Fundamental Rights Agency to provide guidance and assess compliance challenges regarding artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems.
Controls
What this policy requires, forbids, grants or penalises, one control at a time and in our own words. Each control links to the official text, which is the authority. This is not legal advice.
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Themes covered 7 of 35
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Risk and scope 0 of 4
- Risk classification, not covered
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Data and privacy 1 of 4
- Data governance and quality, not covered
- Cross-border data transfer, not covered
- Copyright and training data, not covered
Transparency and records 2 of 4
- Labelling of synthetic content, not covered
- Technical documentation, not covered
Technical safeguards 1 of 4
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- Accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity, not covered
- Testing and evaluation, not covered
Assurance and lifecycle 1 of 4
- Conformity assessment and certification, not covered
- Registration and notification, not covered
- Incident and breach reporting, not covered
Rights and protected groups 0 of 4
- Automated decision-making rights, not covered
- Children and vulnerable groups, not covered
- Biometric identification and surveillance, not covered
- Whistleblowing, complaints and redress, not covered
Roles and organisation 2 of 6
- Supply chain and provider-deployer duties, not covered
- General purpose and foundation models, not covered
- Public sector use and procurement, not covered
- Innovation support and sandboxes, not covered
Enforcement and sectors 0 of 5
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- Sector rules: education, not covered
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3.1 3 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The EU and its Member States should increase combined public and private AI research and development investments to at least 20 billion euros by 2020, and then exceed 20 billion euros annually over the following decade.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDeadline was Drafted by the Index
The Commission will increase its Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding for AI to approximately 1.5 billion euros by the end of 2020.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The EU should strengthen its position as a leader in AI research, bring more AI innovation to market and encourage European companies to adopt AI technologies.
3.2 3 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Member States retain responsibility for developing education and training initiatives to help Europeans acquire basic digital skills and complementary skills that machines cannot replace.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The EU should focus efforts to support workers whose jobs are likely to be transformed or displaced by automation, robotics and AI.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The EU should train more AI specialists, create an appropriate working environment for them in the EU and attract AI talent from other countries.
3.3 3 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The EU should maintain a framework that establishes trust and accountability in the development and use of artificial intelligence systems.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission should monitor how the General Data Protection Regulation is applied in the context of artificial intelligence.
- ObligationApplies to: ProviderDrafted by the Index
Developers should create artificial intelligence systems in a manner that enables people to understand how the technology works, to increase transparency and reduce the risk of bias or error.
3.4 4 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Each Member State should develop an artificial intelligence strategy that includes provisions for investment.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission should facilitate dialogue with Member States and Norway to reach a shared plan on artificial intelligence by the end of the year.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission should establish and support a broad multi-stakeholder platform called the European AI Alliance that brings together businesses, consumer groups, workers and civil society representatives to work on artificial intelligence issues.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission should track the uptake of artificial intelligence applications across the economy and identify shifts in industrial value chains, as well as societal and legal developments caused by artificial intelligence.
Change history
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