"A dynamic and innovative European AI ecosystem is essential for our future independence and strategic autonomy. The CoR Opinion on the AI Continent Action Plan reiterates the importance of supporting local and regional authorities in reskilling and upskilling staff, reducing bureaucracy for citizens and SMEs, and delivering services more efficiently," said Alberto Cirio (IT/EPP), President of the Piedmont Region and Chair of the ECON Commission. He made these remarks while presenting his opinion on the AI Continent Action Plan during a meeting of the Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) in Brussels.
Cirio underlined the need to ensure energy independence as well as access to raw materials in order to achieve true autonomy in AI. He added: "The best practices of European Digital Innovation Hubs are locally rooted and should be scaled up, with concrete support at EU level.”
The opinion highlights that local and regional authorities—responsible for delivering essential services to citizens—are uniquely placed to deploy AI responsibly across sectors such as healthcare, transport, and energy efficiency. It stresses that AI is not only a technological challenge but also a territorial one. The rapporteur called for urgent action to establish AI factories, gigafactories, and data labs, with regions and cities playing a key role in site selection, data management, and innovation ecosystems. Members also urged the creation of regulatory sandboxes, clear guidelines, investment in skills, and innovative funding tools to help public administrations adopt AI safely and ensure that no community is left behind.
The rapporteur underlined the need to roll out guidelines for cities and regions on AI Act implementation. He also welcomed the revival of the AI Alliance and expresses the CoR’s readiness to relay public sector experience to its discussions as LRA representatives.
Background
The AI Continent Action Plan, presented by the European Commission on 9 April 2025, aims to transform EU strengths—such as unparalleled talent and strong traditional industries—into AI accelerators. It seeks to shape the next phase of AI development, boost economic growth, and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness in areas including healthcare, automotive, science, and more.
Next steps
The opinion is scheduled to be adopted during the CoR plenary session in December 2025.
