Mario Draghi on Artificial Intelligence Act
TL;DR
Mario Draghi advocates pausing the implementation of the second phase of the AI Act until its drawbacks are fully understood.
Key Points
He stated that the next stage of the AI Act, covering high-risk systems, must be proportionate and support innovation.
His view that 'excessive regulatory and administrative burden can hinder the ease of doing business in the EU' was cited in relation to the AI Act.
Following his competitiveness report, the European Commission planned to include simplifying the 'smooth application of AI Act rules' in a digital omnibus package in November 2025.
Summary
Mario Draghi, the former Italian Prime Minister, has explicitly called for a pause in the implementation of the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, specifically targeting its next stage. This position stems from his broader report on EU competitiveness, which warned that excessive regulation could hinder European innovation, citing unclear overlaps between the AI Act and the GDPR as an example. While he noted that the initial rules banning 'unacceptable-risk' systems have been implemented without major issues, he contends that the subsequent phase, which addresses high-risk AI systems in critical sectors like health and infrastructure, must be proportionate and support innovation.
His call for a pause is part of a wider push for 'better regulation' and simplification of the EU's digital rulebook, a priority taken up by the European Commission following his recommendations in 2024. The Commission has since announced measures, including potential delays and adjustments to the AI Act as part of a 'digital omnibus,' to reduce administrative burdens and keep pace with global technological developments. This suggests that Draghi’s concerns about proportionality and uncertainty are influencing the EU's approach to the law's final rollout.
Key Quotes
"The next stage — covering high-risk AI systems in areas like critical infrastructure and health — must be proportionate and support innovation and development. In my view, implementation of this stage should be paused until we better understand the drawbacks"
“excessive regulatory and administrative burden can hinder the ease of doing business in the EU and the competitiveness of EU companies”
Frequently Asked Questions
Mario Draghi's position is that the implementation of the latter stages of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act should be paused. He believes this is necessary to better understand the drawbacks of the rules covering high-risk AI systems before proceeding. His stance is rooted in a desire for 'better regulation' that supports innovation.
The former Italian Prime Minister called for a pause because he views the implementation stage covering high-risk AI systems as a source of uncertainty. He wants to ensure the rules are proportionate and do not unduly hinder European competitiveness and innovation. This concern followed his comprehensive report on the EU's economic standing.
Yes, Mario Draghi's report on European competitiveness spurred the European Commission to prioritize digital simplification, which included taking steps regarding the AI Act. This resulted in proposals for targeted adjustments and potential delays for parts of the legislation to ease the administrative burden on businesses.
Sources9
Draghi calls for AI Act pause to determine risks
Simplifying EU digital laws for competitiveness | Epthinktank | European Parliament
A view from Brussels: The balancing act of simplifying the EU digital rulebook | IAPP
Simplifying EU digital laws for competitiveness
European Commission accused of ‘massive rollback’ of digital protections
EU AI Act on the List of the European Commission's Digital Simplification Agenda
EU Cloud and AI Development Act | Updates, Compliance
Implementing the AI Act: The Commission's first big test for better regulation
Repealing P2B-Regulation as Part of Digital Omnibus Allows the EU To AI-Proof the DMA
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.