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EU and Africa deepen cooperation on AI investment and digital infrastructure

European Commission has expanded cooperation discussions with African partners on AI through a new EU-Africa AI Tech Business Offer Event held in Brussels.

The event brought together policymakers, technology companies, development finance institutions, and digital cooperation organisations from Europe and Africa.

Government representatives from Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania participated in discussions alongside European digital companies and private sector organisations.

According to the European Commission, discussions focused on investment opportunities, AI infrastructure, and long-term cooperation between European and African digital ecosystems.

The initiative was organised under the Team Europe approach in cooperation with Smart Africa, the German development agency GIZ, and the Digital for Development Hub.

Why does it matter?

The event highlights increasing geopolitical and economic competition around ΑΙ partnerships, infrastructure, and digital influence across emerging markets. For Europe, cooperation with African countries supports broader goals linked to digital development, technological sovereignty, and global AI governance. For African governments, the partnerships may accelerate access to AI infrastructure, investment capital, skills development, and digital innovation ecosystems.

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DIGITALEUROPE urges stronger EU-US digital cooperation

DIGITALEUROPE has called for the rapid implementation of the EU-US trade deal and the launch of a broader transatlantic digital dialogue. The organisation said commitments under the Turnberry Agreement should be implemented to provide greater predictability for businesses.

DIGITALEUROPE said progress on implementing legislation is important for timely adoption of the agreement. The organisation also highlighted the importance of cooperation on digital resilience and competitiveness between the EU and the United States.

According to DIGITALEUROPE, the proposed EU-US Digital Dialogue could address areas including critical technologies, cybersecurity, secure connectivity, and energy technologies. The organisation said industry participation would support cooperation and transatlantic coordination.

DIGITALEUROPE also called for progress on a Cyber Mutual Recognition Agreement between the EU and the US. The statement reflects ongoing efforts to reinforce digital collaboration between Europe and the US.

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European Commission backs €5 billion fund for AI and deep tech

The European Commission has announced that the European Innovation Council Fund Board has selected EQT as the preferred investment adviser and fund manager for the new €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund, an initiative designed to support European deep-tech scaleups.

According to the Commission, the fund will be the largest initiative of its kind launched in Europe and forms a central pillar of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. It aims to provide late-stage growth capital for European companies operating in strategic technology sectors, including AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, clean technology, biotech, medical technologies, space and dual-use technologies.

European officials said the fund is intended to address the financing gap that has often pushed promising European scaleups to seek investment outside the continent. The aim is to help more high-growth technology firms remain headquartered and operational in Europe as they expand.

EQT was selected following what the Commission described as a competitive process focused on investment expertise, fundraising capability and operational experience in scaling technology companies.

The initiative is being developed alongside several major European institutional investors and financial organisations, including Novo Holdings, Allianz, CriteriaCaixa, ABP and Santander/Mouro Capital.

The Commission said legal agreements and investor approval processes are underway, with the Scaleup Europe Fund expected to begin investment operations in autumn 2026. The initiative will also be formally presented during the EIC Summit on 3 June 2026.

Why does it matter?

he fund reflects Europe’s concern that strategic technologies such as AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology and space are increasingly tied to economic security and geopolitical influence. By creating a large European growth-capital vehicle, the EU policymakers are trying to reduce the pressure on scaleups to rely on foreign financing or relocate abroad, while strengthening Europe’s ability to retain innovation, industrial capacity and technological leadership.

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SAIFA project launched to support AI and high-performance computing in Serbia

The School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade has announced the launch of SAIFA, the Serbian Artificial Intelligence Factory Antenna, supported by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. According to the organisers, the project forms part of a broader EU initiative focused on interconnected AI and high-performance computing environments.

SAIFA is intended to expand access to AI and computing resources for academia, public administration, startups, and industry. It also aims to integrate national expertise into the broader European AI ecosystem through collaboration, application development, and knowledge exchange.

Project leadership highlighted SAIFA as both a continuation of ongoing work in advanced computing and a step towards stronger regional cooperation within the EU. The initiative includes partners from research, innovation, and government sectors.

A consortium of institutions, including research institutes and government bodies, will support the project’s development and implementation. The launch event and initial meeting took place in Belgrade, Serbia.

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Council compromise text advances EU AI Act changes

The Council of the European Union has confirmed agreement on a compromise text for the Digital Omnibus on AI, a proposal intended to simplify parts of the EU AI Act’s implementation while preserving protections for health, safety, and fundamental rights.

The Permanent Representatives Committee confirmed the agreement on 13 May 2026, following informal negotiations between the EU institutions on 6 May. The Council Presidency was authorised to send a letter to the European Parliament stating that, if Parliament adopts the text at first reading, the Council will approve Parliament’s position.

The compromise text amends Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 on AI and Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 on civil aviation. It says targeted changes are needed because delayed standards, national governance structures, and conformity assessment frameworks have created compliance burdens heavier than expected.

The proposal would adjust several AI Act implementation rules, including provisions on AI literacy, treatment of small mid-cap enterprises, conformity assessment, AI regulatory sandboxes, real-world testing, and the role of the AI Office. It would also simplify some registration and monitoring requirements while providing more time for high-risk AI obligations to apply.

One major addition concerns prohibited AI practices. The text would prohibit placing on the market, putting into service, or using AI systems that generate or manipulate realistic non-consensual intimate images, videos, audio, or similar material of identifiable people. It would also prohibit AI systems that generate or manipulate child sexual abuse material, subject to limited lawful exceptions.

The compromise text also modifies the AI literacy obligation. Instead of requiring providers and deployers to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy among staff, the revised wording would require them to take measures to support AI literacy, while clarifying that they are not required to guarantee a specific level for each individual.

For high-risk AI systems, the compromise text proposes delayed application dates for certain obligations: 2 December 2027 for systems classified as high-risk under Article 6(2) and Annex III, and 2 August 2028 for systems classified as high-risk under Article 6(1) and Annex I. The text says this is intended to address implementation challenges linked to delayed standards, guidance, and national competent authorities.

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CJEU backs fair remuneration for press publishers

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that member states may allow press publishers to claim fair remuneration when they authorise online service providers to use their publications.

The judgement came in a case involving Meta Platforms Ireland’s challenge to an Italian Communications Regulatory Authority decision on criteria for determining fair remuneration for online use of press publications. Meta argued that the Italian framework conflicted with EU rules on publishers’ rights under the Digital Single Market copyright directive.

The CJEU found that a fair remuneration right for publishers can be compatible with EU law if the payment is consideration for authorising online service providers to use press publications. Publishers must also be able to refuse authorisation or grant it free of charge, and online service providers cannot be required to pay for it when they do not use the publications.

The ruling also says online service providers may be required to negotiate with publishers without limiting content visibility during talks and to provide data needed to calculate remuneration. The CJEU said such obligations may restrict the freedom to conduct a business, but appear justified where they help ensure fair negotiations and support EU objectives on copyright, media pluralism, and publishers’ ability to recoup investments.

The CJEU also found that powers granted to AGCOM to set criteria, determine remuneration in the event of disagreement, ensure compliance with information obligations, and impose penalties may be permissible if they support the effective implementation of publishers’ rights.

The final assessment remains for the national court, which must verify whether the Italian legislation satisfies the conditions identified by the CJEU.

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Council of the EU extends cyber sanctions framework until 2027

The Council of the European Union has extended restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in cyber-attacks threatening the EU and its member states until 18 May 2027. The legal framework behind the sanctions regime had already been extended until 18 May 2028.

The framework allows the EU to impose targeted sanctions on persons or entities involved in significant cyber-attacks that constitute an external threat to the Union or its member states. Measures can also be imposed in response to cyber-attacks against third countries or international organisations, where they support Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives.

Current listings under the regime apply to 19 individuals and seven entities. Sanctioned actors face asset freezes, while the EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds or economic resources available to them. Listed individuals are also subject to travel bans preventing them from entering or transiting through the EU territory.

The Council said the individual listings will continue to be reviewed every 12 months. It also said the measures are intended to deter malicious cyber activity and uphold the international rules-based order by ensuring accountability for those responsible.

The sanctions mechanism forms part of the EU’s broader cyber diplomacy toolbox, established in 2017 to strengthen coordinated diplomatic responses to malicious cyber activity. The Council said the EU and its member states would continue working with international partners to promote an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace.

Why does it matter?

The decision shows how cybersecurity has become part of the EU’s foreign policy and sanctions toolkit, not only a matter of technical defence. By extending cyber sanctions listings, the EU is reinforcing its use of diplomatic and economic measures to deter malicious cyber activity, attribute responsibility and signal that significant cyber-attacks can carry geopolitical consequences.

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EU Commission reviews Android DMA rules on interoperability

The European Commission is consulting third parties on proposed measures requiring Alphabet to ensure effective interoperability between Google Android and AI services under the Digital Markets Act.

The draft measures focus on AI services’ access to key Android capabilities, including wake-word activation, contextual data, integration with applications, and access to hardware and software resources needed for reliable and responsive services.

The Commission opened proceedings in January 2026 to specify how Alphabet should comply with DMA interoperability obligations for features relevant to AI services. Its proposed measures cover invocation, context, actions on apps and the operating system, access to resources, and general requirements such as free access, documented frameworks and APIs, technical assistance and reporting.

Stakeholders were asked to comment on the effectiveness, completeness, feasibility and implementation timelines of the proposed measures, particularly from the perspective of AI service providers and Android device manufacturers.

Input from Alphabet and interested third parties may lead to adjustments before the Commission adopts a final decision-making the measures legally binding. The Commission is expected to adopt that decision by 27 July 2026.

Why does it matter?

The case shows how the DMA is being applied to the emerging competitive landscape for AI assistants and mobile operating systems. If third-party AI services need access to Android features such as wake words, contextual data, app actions and on-device resources to compete effectively, interoperability rules could shape which AI tools reach users and how much control gatekeepers retain over mobile AI ecosystems.

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EU weighs social media age rules to protect children

The European Commission has signalled that it may propose EU-level rules on delaying children’s access to social media, as concerns grow over addictive platform design, harmful content and AI-enabled risks for minors.

In a keynote address at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU must consider whether young people should be given more time before using social media. She said the question was not whether young people should have access to social media, but ‘whether social media should have access to young people’.

Von der Leyen said almost all the EU member states had called for an assessment of whether a minimum age is needed, while Denmark and nine other member states want to introduce one. She added that the Commission’s expert panel on child safety online is advising on the issue, and that a legal proposal could follow this summer, depending on its findings.

Von der Leyen linked the debate to wider concerns about platform business models. She argued that children’s attention was being treated as a commodity through addictive design, advertising, algorithmic recommendation systems and content that can harm mental health. She also pointed to risks linked to AI-generated sexualised images and child sexual abuse material.

The Commission President cited enforcement under the Digital Services Act, including actions involving TikTok, Meta and X, as well as investigations into platforms over whether children are being drawn into harmful content. She said the EU had created strong tools through the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, and that platforms breaking the rules would be held accountable.

Von der Leyen said that any age restriction model would depend on reliable age verification. She said the EU had developed an open-source age verification app that would soon be available, including a rollout in Denmark by summer, and that the Union was working with member states to integrate it into digital wallets.

The speech also framed child online safety as a matter of platform responsibility, not just parental control. Von der Leyen said social media companies should be responsible for product safety in the same way other industries are, adding that ‘safety by design’ protections should be strengthened and expanded. She also pointed to the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, which is expected to address addictive and harmful design practices.

Why does it matter?

The speech suggests that the EU child online safety policy may be moving from platform accountability after harm occurs towards more structural controls over access, design and age verification. A possible social media delay would mark a major shift in how the EU approaches children’s participation online, raising questions about privacy-preserving age checks, children’s rights, parental responsibility, platform duties and the balance between protection and digital inclusion.

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European Ombudsman criticises Commission over X risk report access

The European Ombudswoman has criticised the European Commission’s handling of a request for public access to a risk assessment report submitted by social media platform X under the Digital Services Act.

The case concerned a journalist’s request to access X’s 2023 risk assessment report, which large online platforms must provide under the DSA. The Commission refused to assess the report for possible disclosure, arguing that access could undermine X’s commercial interests, an ongoing DSA investigation and an independent audit.

The Ombudswoman found it unreasonable for the Commission to rely on a general presumption of non-disclosure rather than individually assessing the report. She said the circumstances in which the EU courts have allowed such presumptions differ from the rules applying to DSA risk assessment reports.

Although X has since made the report public with redactions, the Ombudswoman recommended that the Commission conduct its own assessment and aim to give the journalist the widest access possible, including potentially to parts redacted by the company. If access is refused for any sections, the Commission must explain why.

The finding of maladministration highlights the importance of transparency in the oversight of very large online platforms under the DSA, particularly where documents are relevant to public scrutiny of platform risk management and regulatory enforcement.

Why does it matter?

The case tests how far transparency obligations around very large online platforms can be limited by broad claims of commercial sensitivity or ongoing investigations. DSA risk assessment reports are central to understanding how platforms identify and manage systemic risks, so access decisions affect public oversight of the EU digital regulation as much as the rights of individual requesters.

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