Regions and cities urge place-based measures on AI to secure Europe’s technological future

ECON members further stressed the need to safeguard the EU’s steel and metals industry to strengthen European competitiveness 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the steel and metals sectors are at the heart of Europe’s strategic and economic future, requiring urgent action to drive innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness. In this context, members of the Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) adopted two draft opinions on the EU action plans on AI as well as on steel and metals during their meeting on 25 September. Local and regional leaders stressed the need for coordinated EU measures and highlighted the central role of cities and regions in implementing these initiatives. 

AI Continent Action Plan  

Local and regional authorities, responsible for providing essential services to citizens, are uniquely placed to deploy AI responsibly across sectors such as healthcare, transport or energy efficiency. In this context, ECON members adopted a draft opinion on the AI Continent Action Plan, stressing that AI is not only a technological challenge but also a territorial one. They called for urgent action to establish AI factories, gigafactories and data labs, with a key role for regions and cities to site selection, data management, and innovation ecosystems. Members also urged regulatory ‘sandboxes’, clear guidelines, skills investment, and innovative funding to help public administrations adopt AI safely and ensure no community is left behind. 

Rapporteur Alberto Cirio (IT/EPP) President of the Piedmont Region and ECON chair: "A dynamic and innovative European AI ecosystem is essential for our future independence and strategic autonomy. The CoR Opinion on IA continent action plan reiterates the importance to support local and regional authorities in re-skilling and upskilling staff, reduce bureaucracy to citizens and SMEs and provide for services in a more efficient way. The text approved also underlines the need to ensure energy independence as well as access to raw materials to be truly independent on AI. The best practices of European Digital Innovation Hubs are locally rooted and should scale up, with concrete support at EU level.” 

The draft opinion is scheduled to be adopted during the 10-11 December plenary session.  

European Steels and Metals Action Plan  

ECON members also adopted a draft opinion on the Steel and Metals Action Plan, calling for urgent measures to safeguard a sector essential to Europe’s economy, strategic autonomy, and green transition. They urged the EU to cut electricity costs, reform the energy market, and accelerate support for decarbonisation through green hydrogen and clean technologies. Members also demanded stronger trade defence instruments, a reinforced carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), and limits on exports of scrap metal, in order to protect resources and jobs. They further called for sustained EU funding that does not reduce Cohesion Policy resources.  

Rapporteur Guillermo Peláez Álvarez (ES/PES) Regional Minister for Finance, Justice and European Affairs of the Principality of Asturias, said: “It was steel that laid the very foundations of our European project – and it can once again help secure its future. As our steel and metals industry stands at a crossroads, we must act decisively to secure strategic autonomy, support decarbonisation, and protect quality jobs. Therefore, the EU needs to urgently take action. This action plan is a roadmap for resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. But it can only succeed if European regions have the resources and support they need. Regions like Asturias, with our proud industrial roots, are ready to lead this transformation." 

The draft opinion is scheduled to be adopted during the 10-11 December plenary session. 

Also during the meeting   

ECON members held a first exchange of views on the draft opinion on a Single Market Strategy, prepared by rapporteur Lorenzo Galligani (IT/ECR), Councillor of Pistoia, and on the outlook opinion on Public Procurement Directives, drafted by rapporteur Roberto Gualtieri (IT/PES), Mayor of Rome.

ECON members appointed rapporteurs on the following dossiers: 

• Carlos Mazón (ES/EPP), President of the regional government of Valencia, as rapporteur on the European Competitiveness Fund;  

• Emma Blain (IE/EPP), Dublin City Councilor, as rapporteur on the Single Market Programme; 

• Frederick Vermeulen (BE/EPP), Member of the Council of the Municipality of Ichtegem, as rapporteur on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan.  

On the margins of the ECON meeting, the Regional Hubs Network of the CoR will relaunch, with an inaugural workshop in Brussels its priorities for the 2025–30 period. Hosted at the European Committee of the Regions, the event brings together representatives from EU institutions, regional representatives, and key stakeholders to strengthen the role of RegHub contact points, exchange best practices, and set priorities for future consultations. The relaunch marks a new phase in supporting better regulation, ensuring local and regional voices are heard in EU policymaking, and making the Union’s rules simpler and more effective on the ground. 

Background 

• Video and photos from the meeting  

• The AI Continent Action Plan, presented by the European Commission on 9 April 2025, aims at turning EU strengths, such as unparalleled talent and strong traditional industries, into AI accelerators and at shaping the next phase of AI development, boosting economic growth, and strengthening the EU’s competitiveness in areas such as healthcare, cars, science and more. 

• The European Commission presented on 19 March 2025 the European Steel and Metal Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU steel and metals sector by focusing on six key pillars: securing affordable clean energy, preventing carbon leakage, promoting circularity, protecting industrial capacities, strengthening industrial jobs, and de-risking investments.