The European Commission presented on 21 April 2021 its long-awaited proposal to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe. The proposed regulation builds on the Commission white paper on AI from February 2020 and is accompanied by a new Coordinated plan which envisages joint actions for the Commission and the EU member states to boost the uptake of AI.
Cullen International provides an in-depth analysis of the proposed AI regulation, which would be directly applicable in EU countries once it enters into force.
The proposed framework would lay down harmonised rules for “the placing on the market, the putting into service and the use of” AI systems in the EU. It offers a risk-based approach with four levels of risk which serves as a reference point for the envisaged rules and obligations.

While certain AI practices would be prohibited, at the core of the proposed framework are high-risk AI systems which would be subject to specific mandatory requirements as well ex-ante conformity assessment.
The proposed regulation would establish governance systems at a national and an EU level (through a new European Artificial Intelligence Board), as well as rules on post market monitoring and penalties for non-compliance.
The analysis by Cullen International investigates the overall context of the proposed AI framework, the scope of obligations and requirements as well as the envisaged enforcement mechanisms.
For more information and access to the full analysis, please click on “Access the full content” - or on “Request Access”, in case you are not subscribed to our European Digital Economy Service.
more news
03 April 26
Spectrum policy and new consumer protection rules in the LATAM telecoms market
Cullen International’s latest LATAM Telecoms Update highlights policy developments over the past three months affecting the regulation of radio spectrum, wholesale networks and consumer protection in six markets in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
30 March 26
Transposition status of key EU environmental directives
Our latest benchmark contains summary information on the transposition status of six key EU environmental directives.
26 March 26
What are New Competition Tools and who wields them?
Our new benchmark surveys which European countries have introduced so-called new competition tools (NCTs), also known as market investigation powers. NCTs enable competition authorities to intervene in markets without establishing an infringement of antitrust rules.