Home > Technologies & Digital Transformation > New AI Continent Action Plan aims to make the EU a global AI leader

New AI Continent Action Plan aims to make the EU a global AI leader

On 9 April 2025, the European Commission (EC) issued the AI Continent Action Plan, with the goal of enabling the EU to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence.

To achieve this, the Action Plan considers that work in five key domains must be intensified:

  1. Scaling up the EU’s computing infrastructure.
  2. Ensure the access to high-quality data for AI innovators
  3. The development of AI algorithms and leveraging their adoption in the EU’s strategic sectors.
  4. Fostering a strong EU AI talent base.
  5. Facilitating the compliance with the AI Act for smaller innovators.

To achieve point 3, developing AI algorithms for the EU’s strategic sectors, the EC will launch the “Apply AI Strategy”. One of its pillars will be using AI to improve the quality and the efficiency of public services, in areas like healthcare, justice, education and public administration. Moreover, the AI Continent Action Plan notes that “AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for preventing and combating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all, including by generating accessible solutions and removing barriers for persons with disabilities”. 

Additionally, up to four pilot projects will be conducted within the public sector to accelerate the deployment of generative AI solutions in public administrations, with a focus on enhancing decision-making, streamlining internal administrative processes, and improving citizen interactions by making public services more accessible.

Regarding point 4, fostering a strong EU AI talent base, the Action Plan, similarly to the Union of Skills, underlined as a key action the 2030 Roadmap on the future of digital education and skills, and the AI in Education initiative that will be included within the roadmap – aiming to support AI literacy for primary and secondary education and to foster the ethical uptake of AI in education. Additionally, the EC will launch in Q2 2025 the AI Skills Academy, a one-stop shop providing education and training on skills related to the development and deployment of AI. It will also include scholarships and returnship schemes for female professionals to (re-)enter the labour market.

The EC Communication on the AI Continent Plan is available here.