Brussels, 9 April 2025 – The European Tech Alliance (EUTA) supports the European Commission’s ambition to position Europe as the AI continent. The AI Continent Action Plan outlines a strong vision, but it must now move from theory to practice: providing European tech companies with a clear, predictable, and risk-based framework.
The Plan is built on five core pillars:
- Developing large-scale computing infrastructure
- Ensuring access to high-quality data
- Accelerating and fostering innovation
- Focusing on skills and talent
- Simplifying the regulatory environment
These pillars will only boost Europe’s competitiveness and make AI a true driver of economic growth if the EU implements its ambition swiftly and effectively, starting with its strong commitment to simplification.
EUTA particularly welcomes the following priorities:
- Simplification: The EU must create the right conditions for a functioning and harmonised internal market, including stronger coordination among Member States. European tech companies should be able to focus their resources on innovation to compete globally.
- Access to Data: EUTA supports the Commission’s commitment to improve access to high-quality data. Companies must be empowered to (re)use data in a manner that respects privacy and confidentiality.
- Talent and Skills: Europe must become a destination of choice for tech and AI talents and expand its homegrown talent pool.
EUTA applauds the statement by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen that “AI is no longer ‘just’ a competitive advantage; it’s a necessity to be competitive and to close the innovation gap.”
The following can be attributed to EUTA’s Secretary General, Victoria de Posson
“We welcome the Commission’s willingness to make the AI Act ‘clear’ and ‘easy to apply’, but clarity must come fast. Simplification is not optional, it is overdue.”
“Simplifying compliance is essential: every euro spent on overlapping rules is a euro not invested in innovation. European tech has already begun to comply, let’s make sure that effort is not wasted.”
“The Commission refers to working with the AI Board of Member States to assist in providing guidance. What is really needed is one rule, one interpretation, for one European Single Market, so European tech can innovate without borders. Europe’s AI plan must empower European tech to compete globally, not just comply locally.”
“An AI Act Service Desk is welcome, but is the Commission ready for an avalanche of questions? And more importantly, will the answers stand in court or just raise more legal uncertainty?”
About the European Tech Alliance
EUTA represents leading European tech companies that provide innovative products and services to more than one billion users. Our 33 EUTA member companies from 15 European countries are popular and have earned the trust of consumers. As companies born and bred in Europe, for whom the EU is a crucial market, we have a deep commitment to European citizens and values.
With the right conditions, our companies can strengthen Europe’s resilience and technological autonomy, protect and empower users online, and promote Europe’s values of transparency, rule of law and innovation to the rest of the world.
The EUTA calls for boosting Europe’s tech competitiveness by having an ambitious EU tech strategy to overcome growth obstacles, making a political commitment to clear, targeted and risk-based rules, and enforcing rules consistently to match the globalised market we are in.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Victoria de Posson, EUTA Secretary General
E-mail: victoria@eutechalliance.eu
E-mail: info@eutechalliance.eu
Phone: +32 476 25 08 16
www.eutechalliance.eu
