The informal summit of the heads of state and government of the European Union will convene on Friday in Dublin, chaired by European Council President António Costa, with the participation of President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides. The meeting, which will also be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, marks the first discussion specifically dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the level of European leaders.
As European Council President António Costa noted, given the rapid pace at which AI is evolving, a dedicated discussion on the opportunities it offers, as well as its transformative socioeconomic impact, is now deemed necessary.
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According to an official briefing, Friday’s discussion is expected to focus on three aspects. The first concerns Europe’s position in the global competition for AI, as well as the strategic challenges it faces in strengthening its competitiveness and ensuring its technological leadership in the AI sector.
A second point concerns the broader impact of AI on European societies, as well as issues related to security and trust, and the third aspect concerns Europe’s next steps in the field of AI.
These discussions are also expected to inform the debate at the upcoming Informal European Council (Leaders’ Retreat) on February 5, 2027, where an overview of the two previous similar meetings on defense, security, and competitiveness will be presented.
The first discussion of the Informal Summit will include an introduction by the guest CEO of Mistral AI, Arthur Mensch, followed by questions, answers, and reactions from the leaders. Immediately afterward, the proceedings will continue with the second discussion, which will begin with a presentation by Nobel laureate and researcher Geoffrey Hinton.
Regarding Cyprus’ National Strategy on AI, it should be noted that it has a time horizon of 2032 and was adopted by the Council of Ministers on November 10. The Strategy aligns with European priorities, aiming to establish Cyprus as a reliable AI hub in the Eastern Mediterranean by enhancing productivity, skills, and domestic technological capabilities.
Particular emphasis is placed on the development of national computing infrastructure and the utilization of European capabilities (EuroHPC, AI Factories, and Pharos-CY).
According to the official briefing, Cyprus supports Europe’s ambitions in AI by strengthening European capabilities in the development and application of AI, with an emphasis on competitiveness, productivity, resilience, and technological sovereignty, in line with its new National Strategy on AI.
Furthermore, it supports Open Strategic Autonomy as opposed to technological isolationism, by reducing critical dependencies while maintaining international cooperation.
Cyprus, through the Ministry of Education, is promoting the modernization of curricula, the strengthening of digital skills and digital literacy in AI (AI Literacy), as well as the upgrading of Technical and Vocational Education, alongside teacher training and the promotion of the Technical Gymnasium (pilot program) and Guidance and Career Education in elementary education.
Cyprus welcomes the EU Kids Act proposal, emphasizing the need for proportionate rules, reliable age verification, and the strengthening of media literacy and parental supervision.
At the same time, along with France, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, a member of the group of seven member states working to develop and implement a common online age verification system, with an age limit of 15 years.
Finally, it is noted that on November 9, Cyprus co-signed the G7 Leaders’ Declaration, which calls for a safer digital space for minors and was published in the context of the G7 Summit last June in Evian, France.
