Leading European tech companies and trade associations have issued a joint letter to EU policymakers, highlighting key concerns regarding the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The signatories urge the European Commission to ensure that the Act’s secondary legislation supports Europe’s tech ecosystem, fosters innovation, and strengthens global competitiveness.
The letter outlines several critical issues, including:
- Pace of Discussions: Stakeholders need a reasonable and transparent consultation process for technical guidelines and the General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice to provide meaningful input.
- Clarity in Definitions: The definition of an AI System should exclude traditional statistical methods like regression models and decision trees to prevent legal uncertainty and unnecessary costs.
- Prohibited Practices: Strict interpretation of prohibited practices is essential to avoid stifling innovation and ensure harmonised implementation across the EU.
- High-Risk Guidelines: Companies require sufficient time for compliance, and high-risk classifications must focus solely on genuine risks to safety and fundamental rights.
- Regulatory Coherence: The interplay between the AI Act, GDPR, and Digital Services Act must be clarified to avoid fragmentation and ensure regulatory alignment.
The industry warns that overly complex or rushed implementation could disproportionately burden smaller European innovators while benefiting larger corporations. In a competitive global market, European businesses must not face stricter rules than their international counterparts, which could hinder AI development within the EU.
The letter concludes with a call for meaningful consultation, clear definitions, and a risk-based approach to enable Europe’s tech industry to lead responsibly in AI innovation while upholding global standards.
“By balancing innovation with responsible regulation, the AI Act can empower European technology to thrive and set a global benchmark for ethical AI development” the signatories stated.
About the European Tech Alliance
EUTA represents leading European tech companies that provide innovative products and services to more than one billion users. Our 34 EUTA member companies from 16 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
