“AI offers enormous opportunities—especially for public administrations—by cutting bureaucracy and stopping citizens from repeatedly providing information authorities already hold. It is vital for healthcare, restoring mobility to patients; it can optimise public-transport services to match real-time demand; and it helps us predict climate events and act accordingly.” Alberto Cirio (IT/EPP), rapporteur on the AI Continent Action Plan, made these remarks when speaking at the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) meeting in Klagenfurt, Austria.
Alberto Cirio—also Chair of the ECON Commission and President of Italy’s Piedmont Region—used the exchange of views on his draft opinion to spell out both the promise and the pitfalls of artificial intelligence. “We face great risks as well,” he cautioned. “Piedmont has 1,200 municipalities, many of them mountain villages with no mobile reception. If we don’t build AI-ready infrastructure everywhere, we will only widen the digital divide between well-served and vulnerable areas.”
Cirio stressed the need to upskill public-administration staff and highlighted AI’s significant energy footprint: “Every AI query consumes energy. That makes energy provision—and the critical raw materials AI requires—central to the debate, especially since Europe lacks many of those resources.”
Voices from the Regions
Jesús Gamallo Aller, Director General for External Relations and Relations with the European Union Galicia, underlined the importance of responsible deployment: “Since April, Galicia has a dedicated AI law covering ethical, safe, auditable and traceable design and use. We already apply AI in cancer detection, smart farming, wildfire prevention and education. A best-practice guide aligned with the forthcoming EU AI directive would give public administrations legal certainty.”
Thomas Schmidt, Member of the Saxon State Parliament, focused on labour-market implications: “AI systems are already taking over tasks in banking, administration and industry—sometimes easing skills shortages, but often displacing workers who can’t instantly retrain. Lifelong learning and territorial cohesion must ensure AI builds bridges instead of deepening divides.”
AI Continent Action Plan – The Five Pillars
In April the European Commission set course for Europe’s AI leadership with an ambitious AI Continent Action Plan. The plan is based on five pillars:
- Computing Infrastructure – AI Factories and Gigafactories backed by €30 billion, plus a drive to triple EU data-centre capacity.
- Data – Enhanced access and curation through Data Labs to spur innovation.
- Skills – Fellowships, academic partnerships and an AI Skills Academy to grow European talent.
- Development & Adoption – Support for AI uptake in healthcare, mobility, industry and more.
- Simplified Rules – A predictable regulatory framework to accelerate responsible deployment.
A European Commission representative at the ECON meeting confirmed that local and regional authorities (LRAs) are essential across all five pillars, their engagement being key to inclusive access, local innovation and the successful roll-out of Europe’s AI vision.
"I am particularly honored to chair the works of the ECON Commission today, in this wonderful region, which is Carinthia. I would like to thank my friend and colleague President Peter Kaiser and his staff for welcoming us so warmly. And above all, I am convinced of the effectiveness of these discussions, when they take place in the territories, thus bringing Brussels and the EU institutions closer to citizens and companies. Today, in particular we have discussed upon issues that affect our society, regions and cities at the heart: Artificial Intelligence, defense and the management of strategic raw materials." concluded Alberto Cirio, Chair of the ECON Commission and President of Italy’s Piedmont Region.
