List of proposals for EuroDIG 2027

07-11-26 | 23:36 Development of IG ecosystem | Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues The EU AI Act is moving from adoption to application, but for most SMEs the gap between the legal text and daily practice remains wide. Small businesses struggle with basic questions: whether a tool they use or build is in scope, whether they act as provider or deployer, what the AI literacy duty in Article 4 means for a small team, and how the Article 50 transparency rules apply to AI generated content in marketing and customer contact. Guidelines, codes of practice and the Digital Omnibus changes to the timeline add layers that SMEs rarely have the resources to follow. This matters for Europe because SMEs are the large majority of European companies. If compliance is only realistic for large firms with in house legal teams, the AI Act risks slowing SME uptake of AI or pushing it into informal, unchecked use. The issue is how guidance, support structures such as the AI Act Service Desk and national authorities, regulatory sandboxes and standards can become practical and proportionate for SMEs, without weakening the protection of fundamental rights the Act is meant to deliver.

Submitted by: Semanta Hoti

Affiliation: Archon Law

Stakeholder: Private sector

07-11-26 | 23:36 Development of IG ecosystem | Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues EU candidate countries such as Albania are drafting their own AI laws, largely by transposing the EU AI Act as part of aligning with the EU acquis. This raises questions that get little attention in European debate. Copying the text of the AI Act is not the same as being able to apply it: candidate countries often lack independent supervisory authorities, notified bodies, technical expertise and the wider EU infrastructure the Act relies on. Alignment can look complete on paper while key annexes, penalty structures or governance safeguards are missing or weakened in practice. This matters for Europe because candidate countries are closely tied to the EU digital market, host growing tech and outsourcing sectors, and will eventually join the EU regulatory system. Weak or purely formal alignment creates risks for fundamental rights and for businesses operating across borders, and leaves a gap in the European AI framework. The issue is how the EU, candidate countries and civil society can move from formal transposition to effective implementation, including independent oversight, capacity building and real public consultation.