Germany, France urge delay in high-risk AI compliance

Germany and France are calling for a more innovation-friendly EU approach to digital regulation and support a 12-month delay in the AI Act’s compliance requirements for high-risk AI systems. Speaking at the Summit on European Digital Sovereignty in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need to maintain Europe’s technological competitiveness. The AI Act, approved in 2024, is set to fully apply from August 2, 2026, with strict obligations for high-risk AI, including risk-management systems and strong data-governance rules. Macron argued that delaying these requirements is necessary to give governments and companies more time to adapt and to advance innovation. Merz noted that European companies have already committed over €12 billion to digital investments. The summit drew more than 900 policymakers and investors from EU member states.

October 2026

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