Regions and cities call for clearer EU digital rules and more support for AI rollout and data implementation

To ensure simpler EU rules and stronger financial and technical support to implement data and AI policies, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an opinion on 'Digital Simplification and the Data Union Strategy' during the plenary session on 7 May. Local and regional leaders called for EU rules on data and artificial intelligence to be workable and effective for cities and regions across Europe.

Local and regional authorities face growing challenges navigating overlapping EU digital regulations, compounded by limited financial resources, skills shortages in AI and cyber-security the CoR said. In its opinion, the CoR called for more coherent, human-centred rules to enable municipalities and regions to harness the benefits of AI, data-sharing, and cloud services, underscoring that digital policy, infrastructure, and cybersecurity are integral to Europe's security, competitiveness and sovereignty.

The CoR stressed that the growing complexity of regulatory frameworks risks widening the digital divide, particularly for smaller municipalities with limited administrative and technical capacity.It welcomed the ambition to streamline procedures and improve clarity by means of unified guidance, standardised templates, and targeted training programmes.

Regional and local leaders also called for stronger financial backing, including a dedicated AI fund to boost capacity at sub-national level. Such support would enable faster deployment of AI solutions, strengthen administrative capabilities, and help address ongoing skills shortages.

CoR members highlighted the importance of practical implementation tools, calling for standardised templates, model contracts and clearer procurement guidance, particularly when working with global providers and handling data-access requests from third countries.

Members acknowledged the benefits of AI regulatory sandboxes and testing environments but said that current proposals have not been subject to an adequate impact assessment and cautioned against overly complex requirements that could undermine their objectives. They warned that excessive compliance costs and slow implementation would hinder innovation and risk consolidating the dominance of large technology firms, thereby increasing the risk of dependency for public authorities. To address these risks, the Committee called for for a balanced, regulatory approach that supports innovation while remaining workable for local and regional administrations.

Local and regional leaders also stressed the need for EU support for structured training programmes in key areas such as data governance, cyber-security, and regulatory compliance, to help close the acute skills gap affecting many regions and municipalities.

Quote

Rapporteur Pehr Granfalk (SE/EPP), Member of the Solna municipal council: "Europe's digital future must be built with municipalities and regions, not imposed on them through complex burdens. AI and data are already transforming healthcare, transport, energy, cybersecurity and public services, but many local authorities lack the capacity to navigate the red tape. Simplification must therefore go hand in hand with proportionality, clear guidance, training, accessible AI sandboxes and dedicated support for local and regional implementation. Europe needs to innovate more, regulate in a proportionate way, and in this way, lead to more growth."

Background

• Video and photos of the debate;
• On 19 November 2025, the European Commission presented the Data Union Strategy, which aims to safeguard the EU's data sovereignty and strengthen the EU's global position through a strategic approach to international data flows;
• Follow the Press service account on X

Contact

Theresa SostmannTel: +[email protected]