The “AI Continent” objective: Europe tightens its schedule (and its ties with India)

Brussels – Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, will approve, on behalf of the European Union, the declaration of political leaders at the 2026 AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The document recognises that “the promise of artificial intelligence can only be fully realised when its benefits are shared by all of humanity.” In addition to strengthening international cooperation, the summit is intended to showcase progress in this area. “Every day, Europe is getting closer to becoming an AI continent,” explains the Vice-President. For this reason, the summit on artificial intelligence takes on a broader meaning, strengthened by the trade agreement signed at the end of January between the EU and India.

The cornerstone of this visit is the opening of the European Legal Access Office, inaugurated with Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The goal, already announced by President von der Leyen at the 16th EU-India Summit, is to create a direct corridor between European companies and the large pool of Indian professionals in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Home Affairs, emphasised the strategic importance of the move: “The Office marks a new level of cooperation between the EU and India. It will play a key role in connecting Indian talent with employers and higher education institutions in the EU, opening up new pathways for students and researchers.”

Talent mobility is not the only item on the agenda. The Vice-President officially launched the Frontier AI Grand Challenge, a high-profile competition designed to stimulate the creation of European, “sovereign” artificial intelligence models. The idea is to develop large-scale technological capabilities that will enable the Union to independently manage the evolution of frontier technology.
The European strategy for “applied” artificial intelligence is shifting decisively from programmers’ desks to hospital wards, aiming to transform AI into a shield for public health. Through the launch of a new network of advanced screening centres, the Commission aims to involve healthcare organisations across the continent to promote the safe and effective use of algorithms in the fight against the most common diseases. The goal is ambitious: to harness computing power to enhance cancer and cardiovascular prevention, ensuring early diagnosis and timely detection that can make a difference in patient care.

In parallel with this clinical application, Brussels intends to accurately map the existing technological landscape to avoid being caught unprepared by the rapid developments in the sector. For this reason, an invitation has been issued to the sector’s main players to create a forum of experts dedicated to so-called “frontier AI“. This technical body will have the crucial task of identifying emerging opportunities and related challenges, coordinating existing efforts within the European Union to ensure that the development of large-scale models proceeds in a consistent and secure manner.

This summit is part of a broader cooperation plan between the EU and India, which began with the signing of the free trade agreement on 27 January. The agreement is expected to include a reduction in tariffs from 110 to 40 per cent for 12-star cars, as well as reductions in tariffs on sectors such as car components, plastics production, and wine trade. These new horizons for the EU are not just an expansion of the European Union’s markets, but “we are showing a fragmented world that another way is possible,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before signing the partnership.