Germany and France strengthen AI safety and digital sovereignty cooperation
AI safety becomes a joint priority as Germany and France reinforce European digital sovereignty.
Germany and France have agreed to deepen cooperation on AI, AI safety and digital sovereignty following the Franco-German Ministerial Council, reinforcing their joint role in shaping Europe’s technology agenda.
The partnership centres on closer collaboration between France’s AI safety institute, INESIA, and Germany’s newly established AI Safety and Security Institute to strengthen the evaluation and secure deployment of advanced AI models.
The two governments will coordinate AI safety research, institutional expertise and risk assessments while supporting implementation of the European AI Office’s work under the AI Act. They also reaffirmed their commitment to advancing AI safety cooperation through the EU, NATO and the United Nations, positioning it as a shared strategic priority.
Beyond AI safety, Germany and France agreed to strengthen digital sovereignty by jointly shaping the forthcoming EU Tech Sovereignty Package, building on their common definition of digital sovereignty presented at VivaTech 2026.
They also called on the European Commission to reinforce the Digital Fitness Check, deepen cooperation on public sector modernisation and promote a coordinated European spectrum policy to support secure and competitive satellite communications.
The agreement builds on earlier cooperation under the Treaty of Aachen and the Franco-German economic and technological sovereignty agenda. By strengthening collaboration on AI governance, digital infrastructure and strategic technologies, both countries aim to reinforce Europe’s technological resilience and influence over global AI governance.
Why does it matter?
The agreement reflects a broader European effort to strengthen technological sovereignty by combining AI governance, industrial policy and security cooperation. Rather than treating AI safety as a purely technical issue, Germany and France are positioning it as part of Europe’s wider strategy for digital resilience and strategic autonomy.
By coordinating national AI safety institutes while supporting EU institutions such as the AI Office, the partnership could also contribute to a more coherent European approach to evaluating advanced AI systems and shaping international AI governance.
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