Europe Needs a Permanent AI Command Structure

The European Council stands as the most viable venue to bridge the continent’s technological divide. Figures ranging from Mario Draghi and Christine Lagarde to industry insiders like Jacob Coxon have signaled that Europe’s competitive position depends on shifting from reactive warnings to informed, sustained political action. Global summits in New Delhi or Évian have established principles but failed to generate the operational direction required to keep pace with an industry that reinvents itself every few months.

Eva Maydell has urged European Council President António Costa to establish a permanent partnership that convenes every six months. This platform would mirror the Council on the Future—an initiative launched in 2024 at the Munich Security Conference—by creating a space for leaders to address capital shortages, market fragmentation, and strategic infrastructure. By integrating transatlantic firms into discussions on research and investment, this mechanism would force a convergence between policy and technical reality. Ultimately, European leaders must treat technology as a fundamental pillar of geopolitical power, moving beyond mere regulation to foster an environment where local innovators can scale globally.