The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) ECON Commission has appointed Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region, as rapporteur for the upcoming opinion on the AI Continent Action Plan. Reacting to his appointment, Cirio stated: "I am delighted to continue my work on artificial intelligence—an area where Piedmont is already leading the way. AI is increasingly embedded in our daily lives and holds vast potential for public administration. In Piedmont, for example, we are leveraging AI systems to tackle pollution from road transport through innovative traffic light management."
As Chair of the ECON Commission, Cirio emphasized the vital role of local and regional authorities in shaping AI policy and investment: "EU regions and cities must have a voice in shaping investments in AI computing infrastructures and in strengthening skills and talent in this field. The forthcoming opinion will serve as a key contribution to the public sector component of the Apply AI Strategy, which the European Commission will present later this year."
A Broader Perspective on AI's Impact
Responding to journalists Cirio highlighted the growing importance of AI as a transformative force: "The opinion entrusted to me today addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: artificial intelligence. AI is a powerful driver of change—for our societies, economies, labour markets, and public institutions. My previous opinion focused on AI's impact in public administration. This time, the scope is broader. This new opinion aims to shape a comprehensive position from the Committee of the Regions, to be submitted to the European Commission ahead of key decisions on this topic. We must approach artificial intelligence with both openness and responsibility. It offers extraordinary opportunities, but also demands balance. Technological progress must always respect fundamental human values. The evolution of AI must remain firmly guided by human oversight."
About the AI Continent Action Plan
On 9 April 2025, the European Commission released its Communication on the AI Continent Action Plan (COM(2025)165). The plan outlines strategic actions to reinforce the EU’s leadership in tech innovation, including:
- Investment in large-scale AI computing infrastructures
- Improved access to data
- Accelerated AI adoption across strategic sectors
- Strengthened AI skills and talent development
- Simplified and compliant regulatory frameworks
Keeping AI on the CoR Agenda
This opinion will ensure that AI remains a strategic priority for the Committee of the Regions, building on Cirio’s 2024 opinion on the “Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector.” It will highlight the potential of local and regional authorities (LRAs) in the European Commission’s AI approach and provide input to the Apply AI Strategy, expected to be presented by the European Commission and the AI Office in Q3 2025.
Proposed Timeline
- 19 June 2025 (ECON Commission): Exchange of views
- 25 September 2025 (ECON Commission): Discussion and adoption
- 10–11 December 2025 (Plenary): Final discussion and adoption
