European Parliament Divided on the Future of EU AI Law

The debate over the EU’s AI omnibus has exposed a sharp divide in the European Parliament over the future direction of EU AI regulation. Swedish center-right MEP Arba Kokalari, who led the work on the proposal, criticized calls for additional rules from the Greens and Socialists.

Kokalari argued that the EU already has a comprehensive framework in the AI Act, while important provisions have not yet taken effect. In her view, policymakers should prioritize Europe’s competitiveness in the global AI market rather than introduce further regulatory obligations.

She called for less bureaucracy, greater private investment, and improved access to data and computing infrastructure. The position reflects growing concerns among center-right lawmakers that regulatory uncertainty may hinder AI development and deployment in the EU.

Italian Social Democrat MEP Brando Benifei rejected that approach, arguing that Europe needs liability rules to ensure accountability for AI systems. He warned that without legal safeguards, the public may depend on disclosures by technology company executives to understand significant risks or failures.

German Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky also challenged Kokalari’s assessment, referring to concerns about increasingly autonomous AI agents. International Partnerships Commissioner Jozef Síkela later noted that the proposed rules were withdrawn because the Council and the European Parliament could not reach agreement.