European Economic
and Social Committee
EESC calls for strategic investment in AI infrastructure and policy updates to ensure Europe’s global competitiveness in the area of general-purpose AI
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is urging the European Union to boost its investment in secure connectivity, resilient infrastructure, and supply chains to ensure it stays competitive in the rapidly evolving field of general-purpose AI (GPAI). These measures are seen as essential in maximising the benefits of generative AI in line with European values, needs, and fundamental rights.
In its exploratory opinion on Artificial intelligence/the way forward, in which it focuses on the key aspects of GPAI, the EESC stresses that the dynamism and complexity of AI require ongoing updates to the EU’s AI Act. This adaptability is necessary to create a trustworthy AI environment that reflects the EU’s fundamental rights and values.
While GPAI models are largely technical and apply predominantly in the business-to-business (B2B) sector, their indirect impact on workers and consumers cannot be overlooked. This is why the EESC recommends organising dialogues with key stakeholders, including representatives of employers’ organisations and trade unions, to raise awareness about GPAI and address concerns about workplace codes of practice and workers’ rights.
‘We think it is very important that any AI we are using here in Europe is also based on European values. This of course means the rule of law and human rights, but it also means transparency, credibility, and trustworthiness. Those are the key factors for any AI system to work for the people,’ said Sandra Parthie, rapporteur for the opinion, which was requested by the European Commission and the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Although the EU’s AI Act is the first complete set of laws regulating artificial intelligence anywhere in the world, the EU market is still heavily dominated by large digital companies, which are often based outside Europe. To counteract this, the EESC has called for EU competition policy tools to be mobilised to prevent, identify, and address critical behaviour and dominance in the market. European and national investments in innovation are needed to develop robust value chains within the EU and foster value creation in AI.
European values such as sustainability, social rights, respect for human rights and the environment, and data protection and transparency should be key standards for everyone who develops, provides, or uses AI, especially in high-risk areas. Non-European companies operating in the European market or using European data must also follow these standards.
However, the EESC also warns of the risk of not developing and using GPAI in Europe – something not addressed in the AI Act – which mainly lies in decreasing competitiveness among European companies and might result in declining sales, job losses, and economic stagnation and poverty.
Although supportive of the AI Act, the EESC stresses the need for it to be closely monitored and adjusted if the Regulation proves to stifle the innovativeness of European AI-focused companies. This can happen where they are uncertainties over how the Regulation should be applied or if it proves to be too complex, driving investors and innovators away from the European market.
The AI Office, a key entity in the implementation of the AI Act, will play a pivotal role in guiding companies, promoting European standards, and enforcing regulations on both European and non-European companies active in the EU. To fulfil these responsibilities, the AI Office and national authorities must be well-resourced to monitor, evaluate, and enforce the law.
‘We have very good companies and researchers; we have world-leading research facilities on our doorstep. We need to promote them much more than we do. We need to attract talent and make Europe attractive for them to work here. We need to develop AI made in Europe,’ Ms Parthie said.
In the opinion, the EESC also acknowledges the concerns raised by content creators regarding the use of generative AI, emphasising the need for AI development to respect intellectual property, copyright, and patent laws.
Lastly, the EESC stresses the positive role AI can play in improving energy and resource efficiency, while also calling for careful consideration of the environmental impacts associated with the development and operation of AI systems.
The EESC has been consistently monitoring AI-related developments and their possible impact on the EU’s economy and society. General purpose AI is currently the focus of the work of the EESC’s Observatory of the Digital Transition and the Single Market (DSMO). In May, it held a Workshop on Exploring Artificial Intelligence in R&D, producing key takeaways on competitiveness, the AI ecosystem in the EU, governance, and the importance of the human factor.
In 2025, the EESC will publish a study on Generative AI and foundation models in the EU: uptake, opportunities, challenges and a way forward. The study will aim to map value chains in the EU single market that are relevant to the data provision, development, subsequent service provision and use of GPAI, with a particular focus on generative AI and the foundation models it is built on.