On 9 April 2025, the European Union launched the AI Continent Action Plan, as it no longer content with being a regulatory superpower—it now wants to build and lead in artificial intelligence, competing head-on with the United States and China.
Announced by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, that had already hinted at this shift in February, promising that Brussels would simplify rules and reduce friction for businesses. The move to streamline GDPR was a first step; this plan is the next.
Backed by €200 billion in public and private funding, the AI Continent Action Plan is built on five pillars that reflect a dual ambition: to accelerate innovation without abandoning European values.
1. Supercharged Infrastructure: Europe’s AI Gigafactories
- 3 to 5 new AI megacentres, each powered by over 100,000 next-gen processors, will be constructed—surpassing the EU’s current 13 AI facilities.
- €20 billion will be allocated directly to these facilities under the InvestAI initiative,
- New legislation—the Cloud and AI Development Act—aims to triple data centre capacity within 5 to 7 years.
2. Data as Fuel: Quality Over Quantity
- Data Labs will be created to gather and curate high-quality datasets for AI training, aiming to solve one of Europe’s biggest bottlenecks.
- A Data Union Strategy will facilitate secure cross-border sharing of data between companies and governments.
3. Real-World Impact: AI in Key Industries
- With its “Apply AI” Strategy, the EU will push real deployment of AI in healthcare, mobility, manufacturing and beyond—through pilot programmes and public procurement incentives.
4. Skills, Scholarships and Strategic Talent
- The AI Skills Academy will launch in Q2 2025, offering everything from technical training to a new undergraduate degree in generative AI.
- Additional programmes will support women re-entering tech careers and attract international AI talent via the MSCA “Choose Europe” scheme.
5. Smarter Regulation: Enabling, Not Hindering
- The new AI Act Assistance Service will provide free tools and support for businesses navigating compliance.
- The AI Act itself is under review, with plans to ease the regulatory burden on startups and SMEs.
Can the EU Deliver?
The AI Continent Action Plan is the clearest signal yet that Europe is done playing catch-up. It wants to shape the future—not just audit it. Yet for all its ambition, real questions remain: Can it execute fast enough? Will member states align? Can European values survive contact with geopolitical reality?
