A coalition of leading European economists, politicians, and AI specialists has issued a warning about the potential marginalization of Europe in the international AI competition. According to the Ifo Institute on Monday, the group-which includes Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion and former EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager-released a new strategy outlining measures designed to secure Europe’s standing in the AI sector.
The strategy details how Europe can ensure access to cutting-edge AI, foster infrastructure growth, and safeguard its citizens against potential AI-related crises. Stressing the immediate nature of the situation, Vestager urged EU member states and the Commission to act quickly to protect European sovereignty and prosperity. “Across the Union, governments are either not taking AI seriously enough or are focusing on other priorities. The recommendations in this report are concrete and immediately implementable,” she stated. “The Commission and Member States can act now. Nothing should hold us back.”
Aghion emphasized that Europe faces the risk of being left behind in the realm of AI unless swift action is taken. Monika Schnitzer, Chair of the Council of Experts, added that substantial investments are required to build the necessary infrastructure and prevent reliance on foreign powers.
The presented strategy aims to better leverage the strategic and economic potential of Europe’s areas within the global AI supply chain. Furthermore, a key objective is to prepare European institutions for a transformative AI world by integrating leading AI expertise and technology into them, ensuring they can keep pace with technological developments.
Specific measures include securing Europe’s share of global AI computing power in a “European” manner. This entails establishing AI data centers on European soil to ensure stable access to foreign AI models and avoid dependencies.
Moreover, the strategy seeks to establish Europe as a global market leader in auditing and safety technology. This involves developing auditable AI hardware and safety protocols to host foreign flagship models and verify compliance with future international AI agreements. Additionally, the plan calls for adopting countermeasures to ensure resilience against AI crises and minimize threats to public security.
