Timeline - Artificial intelligence

The Council gave its final green light on a new regulation aiming to streamline and simplify certain rules regarding artificial intelligence (AI).

The key elements of the new regulation are:

• a fixed timeline for the delayed application of high-risk rules: 2 December 2027 for stand-alone high-risk AI systems and 2 August 2028 for high-risk AI systems embedded in products
• a new provision in the AI act, prohibiting AI practices regarding the generation of non-consensual sexual and intimate content or child sexual abuse material
• the postponement of the deadline for the establishment of AI regulatory sandboxes by competent authorities at national level until 2 December 2027 and a reduced grace period for providers to implement transparency solutions for artificially generated content from 6 months to 3 months, with the new deadline set on 2 December 2026
• the clarification of the competences of the AI Office for the supervision of AI systems based on general-purpose AI models where the model and that system are developed by the same provider

On the interplay of AI rules with sectoral legislation in sectors such as medical devices, toys, lifts and watercraft, the new law provides for a mechanism that allows to resolve situations in which sectoral law has similar AI-specific requirements to the AI act, by limiting the latter's application in those specific cases through implementing acts. 

The adoption of the AI omnibus is a key deliverable under the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap. 

• Artificial Intelligence: Council gives final green light to simplify and streamline rules (press release, 29 June 2026)

The Council presidency and European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to streamline certain rules regarding artificial intelligence (AI), part of the Omnibus VII legislative package.

The co-legislators:

• added a new provision in the AI act, prohibiting AI practices regarding the generation of non-consensual sexual and intimate content or child sexual abuse material
• introduced a fixed timeline for the delayed application of high-risk rules: 2 December 2027 for stand-alone high-risk AI systems and 2 August 2028 for high-risk AI systems embedded in products
• reinstated the obligation for providers to register AI systems in the EU database for high-risk systems, where they consider their systems to be exempted from classification as high-risk
• reinstated the standard of strict necessity for the processing of special categories of personal data for the purpose of ensuring bias detection and correction
• postponed the deadline for the establishment of AI regulatory sandboxes by competent authorities at national level until 2 December 2027 and reduced the grace period for providers to implement transparency solutions for artificially generated content from 6 months to 3 months, with the new deadline set on 2 December 2026
• clarified the competences of the AI Office for the supervision of AI systems based on general-purpose AI models where the model and that system are developed by the same provider

As for the AI act's rules for industrial AI and their interplay with sectoral legislation in sectors, a compromise was found between the co-legislators on a mechanism that allows to resolve situations in which sectoral law has similar AI-specific requirements to the AI act, by limiting the latter’s application in those specific cases through implementing acts.

• Artificial intelligence: Council and Parliament agree to simplify and streamline rules (press release, 7 May 2026)

The Council agreed its position on the proposal to streamline certain rules regarding AI.

The proposal forms part of the so-called “Omnibus VII” legislative package in the EU’s simplification agenda. The package includes proposals for two regulations aiming to simplify the EU’s digital legislative framework and the implementation of harmonised rules on AI.

• Council agrees position to streamline rules on artificial intelligence (press release, 13 March 2026)

The Council approved the artificial intelligence (AI) act, a ground-breaking law aiming to harmonise rules on artificial intelligence. The flagship legislation follows a ‘risk-based’ approach, which means the higher the risk to cause harm to society, the stricter the rules.

It is the first of its kind in the world and can set a global standard for AI regulation. 

• Artificial intelligence (AI) act: Council gives final green light to the first worldwide rules on AI (press release, 21 May 2024)

Following 3-day 'marathon' talks, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the law on 9 December 2023, after months of negotiations.

The AI act harmonises rules on AI systems ensuring they are safe and respect fundamental rights and EU values.

The final text needs to be formally adopted by both Council and Parliament, as the EU's co-legislators. The AI act should apply from 2026.

• Artificial intelligence act: Council and Parliament strike a deal on the first worldwide rules for AI (press release, 9 December 2023)

The Council adopted its position ('general approach') on the artificial intelligence act. The new proposed regulation aims to ensure that AI systems placed on the EU market and used in the Union are safe and respect existing law on fundamental rights and Union values.

The adoption of the general approach allows the Council to enter negotiations with the European Parliament (‘trilogues’) once the latter adopts its own position with a view to reaching an agreement on the proposed regulation.

• Artificial intelligence act: Council calls for promoting safe AI that respects fundamental rights

The Commission released a proposal for a regulation aiming to harmonise rules on artificial intelligence (AI act) and a coordinated plan which includes a set of joint actions for the Commission and member states.

This package of rules aims to improve trust in artificial intelligence and foster the development and update of AI technology. 

• Proposal for an EU regulation on AI (European Commission)

In October 2020, EU leaders discussed the digital transition. In its conclusions, the European Council invited the Commission to: 

• propose ways to increase European and national public and private investments in artificial intelligence research, innovation and deployment
• ensure better coordination and more networks and synergies between European research centres based on excellence
• provide a clear, objective definition of high-risk artificial intelligence systems

• European Council conclusions, 1-2 October 2020