EU Launches AI Action Plan
The European Union (EU) is taking significant strides to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). On April 8, 2025, the EU Commission unveiled the AI Continent Action Plan, aimed at enhancing the EU’s capabilities in the field of AI.
Key Pillars of the Action Plan
The Action Plan focuses on five main pillars:
- Building AI computing infrastructure
- Increasing access to large and high-quality data
- Developing algorithms and fostering AI adoption
- Strengthening AI skills and talent
- Simplifying regulations
While many of these pillars are still under development, the EU has already begun to enhance its AI computing infrastructure. A notable advancement occurred in July 2024 when the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC) regulation was amended to expand the Joint Undertaking’s objectives to include the creation and operation of AI factories.
Establishment of AI Factories
Through a series of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), 13 consortia were selected to establish AI factories equipped with dedicated AI supercomputers. This initiative is expected to significantly boost the EU’s computing power, allowing for the creation of data labs designed to consolidate data from various AI factories. The data will be made accessible to developers under conditions that align with the EU AI Act, thereby fostering innovation particularly in critical sectors such as:
- Health and life sciences
- Environment and sustainability
- Education
- Finance
- Space
- Cybersecurity
The EuroHPC will serve as the administrator for granting access to users across the EU, prioritizing AI innovators, startups, academia, and public authorities.
Public Consultations
On April 9, 2025, the Commission initiated two public consultations to gather feedback on:
- The Cloud and AI Development Act
- Apply AI
The Cloud and AI Development Act aims to bolster the EU’s cloud and data center capacity, as the region currently lags behind the U.S. and China in these critical areas. This legislation will incentivize investments in cloud and edge capacity while addressing barriers such as environmental authorization, permitting, site identification, and energy access.
The Apply AI initiative seeks to accelerate AI adoption across key industry sectors, including health care, justice, and public administration. As per EU statistics, only 13.5% of companies within the EU have integrated AI into their operations.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The public consultation period for both the Cloud and AI Development Act and the Apply AI initiative is set to conclude on June 4, 2025. Stakeholders interested in these developments have a two-month window to submit their comments and insights.
As the EU continues to navigate the evolving landscape of AI, ongoing monitoring of related developments will be essential for understanding future implications and opportunities in this transformative field.
