AI Continent Action Plan

ERRIN contributes to Committee of the Regions' consultation on AI Continent Action Plan

ERRIN has published its consolidated response to the Committee of the Regions’ consultation on the AI Continent Action Plan, developed through an open consultation process with members of the ERRIN ICT Working Group. The document reflects the perspectives of regional and local authorities on the opportunities and challenges linked to the integration of Artificial Intelligence across Europe.

The response underlines the vital role of regions as enablers of AI, with access to place-based data and the capacity to support the uptake and creation of high-value AI services. It highlights the importance of federated data models and interoperable frameworks, as well as the need for clarified and harmonised legal frameworks to ensure that the EU AI Act is accessible and actionable for local and regional authorities.

Regional examples included in the response showcase how AI is already being deployed to improve public services and citizen welfare, from predictive maintenance and energy efficiency in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, to AI-driven healthcare in Västra Götaland, to inclusive recruitment tools in Flevoland. Such practices demonstrate the transformative potential of AI when supported by regional ecosystems, cross-border collaboration and targeted funding.

The document further calls for sustained investment measures and stronger synergies across funding instruments such as Horizon Europe, Interreg, Digital Europe and European Reginal Development Fund. It stresses that European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) should evolve into AI Experience Centres while remaining firmly embedded in regional ecosystems and aligned with the EU AI Office. The recent launch of the CitiVERSE EDIC is highlighted as an example of how collaborative, cross-border approaches can accelerate AI adoption across sectors such as urban planning, mobility and environment.

Find ERRIN's response to The Committee of the Region’s consultation on the AI Continent Action Plan here.

ERRIN’s response draws on input from a wide range of member regions and organisations, including Flanders, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Västra Götaland, the Oslo Region, Frankfurt-Rhein-Main, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Flevoland. The ICT Working Group, which co-led this process, will continue to follow developments closely and provide a platform for members to engage with EU initiatives on digital transformation.