Open Letter: The European Commission and Member States must keep AI Act national implementation on track
EDRi, along with a broad coalition of civil society organisations, demands urgent action from the European Commission and Member States to ensure that the rights enshrined in the AI Act do not remain hollow promises, but that the Commission and Member States act decisively and immediately to ensure the timely national implementation of the AI Act now.
Member States are missing implementation deadlines as the Commission cheers them on
31 Civil society organisations are highly concerned that despite the deadline for Member States to enact the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act and designate competent national authorities expiring, almost no Member State has fulfilled these critical obligations. This is especially worrying considering that the Commission’s planned digital omnibus is threatening to deregulate and delay the implementation of the AI Act.
We are calling on the European Commission to keep their commitment to the AI Act by ensuring its timely implementation and enforcement, both at the EU and national levels, without delaying or reopening the legislation. Further, the Commission should use their oversight powers to urge Member States to pass implementing laws and designate and sufficiently resource national competent authorities without further delay.
Member States must prioritise national implementation and pass implementing legislation this year to ensure the protection of people’s rights. Additionally, to ensure well-functioning oversight and enforcement of the AI Act, Member States should ensure that national AI governance structures are well-resourced, officially designated, and that civil society is actively engaged and embedded in them.
The Commission and Member States need to act decisively and immediately to ensure the timely national implementation of the AI Act. Otherwise, the rights enshrined in the AI Act remain hollow promises.
