APPLY AI STRATEGY

Background

The European Commission has presented its strategy to strengthen Europe's position in artificial intelligence as part of broader efforts to enhance the EU's digital sovereignty and industrial competitiveness. With the United States and China investing heavily in AI development, Europe faces the dual challenge of accelerating innovation while ensuring AI systems align with European values and regulatory standards. The strategy addresses Europe's need to translate its strong AI research base into commercial success and market deployment, encompassing the entire AI value chain from fundamental research through deployment, while addressing workforce transformation, data governance and computing infrastructure needs.

The EESC considers AI deployment crucial not only for Europe's economic competitiveness but also for its social and democratic resilience. As AI increasingly affects employment, working conditions and fundamental rights, the Committee emphasises that Europe's AI strategy must balance innovation with social cohesion, worker protection and democratic accountability. The EESC stresses that successful implementation requires active engagement from civil society, the social partners and economic actors, alongside adequate skills development, fair governance structures and proportionate regulation that does not stifle innovation.

Key points

The EESC:

• calls for concrete and rapidly deployable measures to speed up the commercialisation of AI, especially for SMEs and scale-ups, through simpler access to funding, a reduced administrative burden, clearer IP rules and support for cross-border scaling in the single market;
• highlights the importance of regional competence clusters, leveraging European Digital Innovation Hubs, and the inclusion of underrepresented sectors such as finance, tourism and e-commerce to ensure a holistic and inclusive AI approach;
• strongly recommends investment in AI skills and literacy, including clear definitions for upskilling and cross-skilling, to support the safe and effective integration of AI into key sectors such as healthcare, defence and security, and the public sector;
• stresses the need for regulatory clarity and proportionality, strengthened data-sharing and IP frameworks, and inclusive governance with balanced stakeholder representation, ensuring obligations are appropriate for SMEs and innovative start-ups;
• calls for long-term funding and strategic public procurement, including predictable support under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, to reinforce Europe’s AI ecosystem, digital sovereignty and industrial base, while ensuring transparency and fair competition.

Read the opinion.

Additional information

Section: Single Market, Production and Consumption

Opinion number: INT/1105

Opinion type: Optional

Rapporteur: Rudolf Kolbe

Co-rapporteur:Miroslav Hajnoš

Reference: (COM(2025) 723 final)

Date of adoption by section: 08.01.2026

Outcome of the vote: 83 in favour / 1 against / 2 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 21.01.2026

Outcome of the vote in plenary:

Contacts

Press officers: Flavia Badircea and Laura Lui

Tel.: +32 2 546 9189

Email: laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

Administrator: Yousra Asbouni El Ouahabi

Tel.: +3225468485

Email: yousra.asbounielouahabi@eesc.europa.eu