Record STMT-W648B04Soft law

White Paper on Artificial Intelligence: A European Approach to Excellence and Trust

WHITE PAPER On Artificial Intelligence - A European approach to excellence and trust

White paper Institutional policyEuropean Unionproposed

This White Paper sets out a European approach to artificial intelligence based on excellence and trust, proposing policy options to boost investment in research, skills, and SME adoption. It outlines a future regulatory framework focused on high-risk AI applications, mandating requirements related to training data, record-keeping, transparency, robustness, and human oversight. The document also addresses safety and liability implications and initiates a public consultation to inform future Commission policymaking.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

European CommissionGovernment (executive)

Lead issuer

Legal forceSoft law

Under whose authorityInstitutional policy

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentRegulatorsPublic sector bodiesCompaniesAI developers and providersAI deployers and usersResearchers and academics

Member States, European institutions, industry stakeholders, social partners, civil society organizations, researchers, and the general public are invited to read and react to the policy options.

Sectors

Cross-sectorHealthcare · healthcareTransport and mobility · transport

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses policy options for boosting AI research, innovation, and infrastructure investments alongside measures to create a regulatory framework based on an ecosystem of trust. It covers criteria for identifying high-risk AI applications, proposed mandatory requirements for those applications, and potential adjustments to product safety and liability rules.

What's missing

It does not address the development and use of AI for military purposes, nor does it provide a final binding legislative text or definitive rules on criminal misuse of AI.

Key takeaways

The European approach centers on a twin objective of promoting AI uptake and addressing risks associated with certain uses.
An ecosystem of excellence will be built by mobilizing public and private investments, enhancing research, skills, and supporting SMEs.
A future regulatory framework will impose mandatory requirements specifically on high-risk AI applications.
High-risk AI applications will be determined by cumulative criteria involving both the sector and the specific intended use.
Mandatory requirements for high-risk AI will cover training data, record-keeping, information provision, robustness and accuracy, and human oversight.
Existing product safety and liability legislation may need targeted adjustments to adequately address challenges posed by AI, IoT, and robotics.

Principles it states

Human agency and oversightTechnical robustness and safetyPrivacy and data governanceTransparencyDiversity, non-discrimination and fairnessSocietal and environmental wellbeingAccountability

Outline

· 1. Introduction
· 2. Capitalising on strengths in industrial and professional markets
· 3. Seizing the opportunities ahead: The next data wave
· 4. An ecosystem of excellence
· 5. An ecosystem of trust: Regulatory framework for AI
· 6. Conclusion

Issued19 February 2020

Length14,260 words · 27 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scoperegional

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

4/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

Under EU product liability law, liability for defective products is attributed to the producer, without prejudice to national laws which may also allow recovery from other parties.

5. E. ADDRESSEES

screening score · 2026-10-23

Fairness

4/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

Requirements to take reasonable measures aimed at ensuring that such subsequent use of AI systems does not lead to outcomes entailing prohibited discrimination.

5. D. TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

3/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

Given the major impact that AI can have on our society and the need to build trust , it is vital that European AI is grounded in our values and fundamental rights such as human dignity and privacy protection.

1. INTRODUCTION

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

monitoring of the AI system while in operation and the ability to intervene in real time and deactivate (e.g. a stop button or procedure is available in a driverless car when a human determines that car operation is not safe)

5. D. TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

4/5

Protection of personal data and private life

Requirements aimed at ensuring that privacy and personal data are adequately protected during the use of AI-enabled products and services.

5. D. TYPES OF REQUIREMENTS

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

The opacity of systems based on algorithms could be addressed through transparency requirements.

1. INTRODUCTION

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

4/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

In view of the high risk that certain AI applications pose for citizens and our society (see section A above), the Commission considers at this stage that an objective, prior conformity assessment would be necessary to verify and ensure that certain of the above mentioned mandatory requirements applicable to high -risk applications (see section D above) are complied with.

5. F. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting

artificial_intelligence fundamental_rights risk_management product_safety data_governance trustworthy_ai