Sitra’s statement on the European Commission’s Apply AI Strategy

The European Commission’s initiative Apply AI Strategy – strengthening the AI continent aims to boost new industrial uses of AI and improve the delivery of public services, fostering innovation and competitiveness.

The strategy aims to create an enabling environment that accelerates progress in AI and its adoption, drives investment and innovation, boosts productivity, while leveraging trustworthy AI. It will serve as a blueprint for the full adoption of AI in EU strategic sectors, leading to the strengthening of the AI continent.

Sitra responded to the Commission’s consultation on the initiative. 

Sitra’s main points

As the EU embraces AI as a defining technology of the future, we welcome this initiative, but we believe two points should be strengthened: governance fragmentation and the missing service layer.

Vertical AI is a must for competitiveness in key sectors, but segmentation raises critical governance questions. Attention must be paid to prevent responsibilities from being fragmented across multiple DGs, and to create strong feedback and monitoring mechanisms.

Moreover, despite the many actions around the AI value chain, the service layer remains underdeveloped. This can be problematic for those who can not build in-house capabilities. A network of AI service providers, potentially integrated/aligned with existing EDIHs, could offer tailored support in AI deployment or algorithm auditing.

Also, RegTech can simplify compliance through automation, reduce obligations ambiguity, and offer real-time monitoring. Sitra has published independent studies with key experts on these topics.

Sitra issued its statement on the European Commission’s Apply AI Strategy on 4 June 2025.