DIGITAL LIFE

Dublin Declaration and priorities for AI in Europe

The Dublin Declaration, adopted on October 14, 2026, by participating European Union member states, establishes seven priorities for cooperation toward the development of safe, reliable, and technologically sovereign artificial intelligence. The document seeks to align national policies in areas such as model safety, computational capacity, the use of AI in public services, and European technological autonomy.

The text, published by the Irish government on October 15, reflects a concern that extends beyond the mere regulation of artificial intelligence. Europe aims to strengthen its capacity to develop, deploy, and apply these technologies within a market where a large portion of the computational infrastructure and the most advanced models depend on international providers.

The declaration was agreed upon during an international summit on artificial intelligence held in Dublin, coinciding with Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Declaration reinforces international cooperation on trusted AI and supports Ireland's ambition to become a global leader in AI innovation and adoption

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD have welcomed the strong international engagement at the International AI Summit in Dublin and the support secured from EU member states for the Dublin Declaration on Trusted, Safe and Sovereign Artificial Intelligence.

The International AI Summit brought together government leaders, industry, researchers and innovators to discuss how countries can work together to harness the opportunities of artificial intelligence while strengthening trust, resilience and technological capability. Building on Ireland's ambition to become one of the world's leading locations for applied AI, the Summit highlighted the role AI can play in driving productivity, supporting innovation, improving public services and enhancing long-term competitiveness.

The Dublin Declaration, which was agreed in the runup to the Summit, sets out a shared vision for advancing trusted, safe and sovereign AI across Europe. It calls for closer cooperation between participating countries on AI adoption, skills, safety, digital infrastructure, research excellence and strategic technological capacity, while promoting international collaboration with trusted partners.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said, "Artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest economic opportunities of our generation. Ireland is determined not only to adopt these technologies, but to help shape how they are developed and applied. The Dublin Declaration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that AI is trusted, safe and delivers real benefits for businesses, workers and citizens.

“Ireland is well placed to lead in applied AI. We have world-class talent, a strong innovation ecosystem, deep connections to global technology leaders and a proven track record of turning technological change into economic growth. Through the International AI Summit, we are strengthening partnerships that will help Europe and like-minded countries compete, innovate and prosper in the AI era." Minister of State with Responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD said,

"The Declaration seeks to advance cooperation among Member States in strengthening AI safety and resilience, accelerating the adoption of trusted AI across our economies and public services, investing in strategic digital and computing infrastructure, supporting European innovation, and building the skills and capabilities necessary for long-term leadership in artificial intelligence.

 "The Dublin Declaration is a strong political signal of Member States’ shared commitment to reinforce and accelerate the important work already under way at European level.

 “Ireland's ambition is clear: to be at the centre of Europe's AI future, helping to shape an AI ecosystem that is innovative, competitive and grounded in trust."

The ministers also outlined progress under the government's Intelligence: Applied agenda, which aims to position Ireland as a leading location to develop, deploy and scale AI. Measures include initiatives to strengthen AI literacy, accelerate adoption across key sectors of the economy, support AI startups and scaling companies, invest in research excellence and build the infrastructure needed to support future growth. The International AI Summit forms part of the government's wider ambition under Digital Ireland to ensure Ireland remains a global hub for AI innovation and adoption, building on the country's strengths in talent, enterprise, connectivity, research and trusted regulation.  

The seven priorities of the Dublin Declaration...According to the document published by Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the participating countries have committed to cooperating in seven areas:

AI safety and resilience, with increased cooperation in identifying and managing risks associated with these systems.

Adoption of reliable AI, both within public administration and in the private sector.

European technological sovereignty, to strengthen the capacity to develop and utilize strategic technologies.

Infrastructure, skills, and computational capacity, through investment in both technical and human resources.

Sustainability, with a focus on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence technologies.

Innovation in the public sector, to develop new applications and improve services provided to citizens.

European and international cooperation, regarding governance policies and technological development.

These priorities indicate that governments are seeking to address two interrelated issues. The first concerns the safety of and trust in AI systems. The second aspect concerns the economic and industrial capacity required to develop these technologies and deploy them across various sectors.

Technological sovereignty is gaining prominence in European strategy...Technological sovereignty occupies a central place in the Dublin Declaration. The concept does not necessarily imply abandoning foreign suppliers; rather, it seeks to reduce dependencies that could limit the decision-making and operational capacity of European nations.

In the context of artificial intelligence, these dependencies encompass components such as specialized processors, data centers, cloud computing services, and models developed by companies based outside the European Union.

This concern was previously voiced by Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. In a speech delivered in September, Lagarde warned of the risks posed by Europe’s reliance on AI, advocating for the strengthening of computational capacity and the development of European-made models to safeguard the continent’s economic sovereignty.

Bolstering Europe’s computational capacity could provide companies and public institutions with more alternatives for developing and running AI systems. Access to infrastructure that is either homegrown or provided by European entities may also be crucial for organizations that handle sensitive information.

The declaration links this ambition to economic competitiveness. For the participating states, establishing rules on the use of artificial intelligence is not enough; it is equally essential to create the conditions that enable companies, researchers, and public administrations to develop and implement the technology.

This approach complements the European Artificial Intelligence Regulation—known as the AI ​​Act—which imposes legal obligations on specific systems and providers. The Dublin Declaration, by contrast, focuses on policy cooperation and the development of technological capabilities.

Civil society criticizes representation at the summit... The initiative has also drawn criticism regarding the level of participation by independent organizations in the European debate on artificial intelligence. In an analysis published on October 27, CDT Europe—an organization dedicated to defending digital rights—noted that the official agenda for the Dublin summit prioritized political and business representatives, failing to include civil society organizations or academics among the speakers.

According to the organization, this absence prompted civil society representatives to organize an alternative summit, focused on the perspectives of workers regarding the development and adoption of artificial intelligence.

Critics raise questions regarding how European priorities will be implemented. Decisions concerning infrastructure, data usage, security, and the application of AI in public services could have implications for fundamental rights, working conditions, and citizens' access to technology.

Consequently, the involvement of various sectors of society may prove significant as political commitments are translated into concrete programs and measures.

The European commitment does not yet define funding or timelines. Despite the broad scope of these priorities, the Dublin Declaration creates no new legal obligations, nor does it establish a binding schedule for the implementation of the measures.

Furthermore, the document lacks a common budget, specific financial targets, or dedicated oversight mechanisms. The national investments announced by Ireland during the summit are part of the country’s own strategy and should not be conflated with funding approved under the framework of the declaration.

In its official announcement on October 14, the Irish government presented the commitment as a means to strengthen cooperation among participating states and accelerate European initiatives already underway.

The Dublin Declaration on Trustworthy, Safe and Sovereign Artificial Intelligence is a policy document adopted by 24 European Union member states on October 14, 2026, during the International AI Summit in Dublin, under the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU.

Key objectives and priorities:

The declaration is not a new law or a legally binding treaty, but rather a strategic commitment to translate existing rules into practical capabilities. It outlines seven core priorities:

• Safety and resilience: Advancing cyber defense, incident monitoring, and the technical capacity to test advanced AI systems.

• Trustworthy applied AI: Accelerating the adoption of safe and useful AI in public services, industries, and critical infrastructure.

• European AI sovereignty: Ensuring control over essential data, knowledge, and technologies, while avoiding foreign dependencies.

• Infrastructure and skills: Investing in computational capacity (compute), data networks, and skills training.

• Sustainability: Ensuring that AI infrastructure is both energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

• Public sector innovation: Leveraging purchasing power and public procurement to drive the development of interoperable and trustworthy European technologies.

• International cooperation: Deepening partnerships within Europe and globally to align governance frameworks and practical projects.

The immediate significance of the Dublin Declaration is, therefore, primarily political. While the document identifies areas for government cooperation, it does not specify which projects will be funded, what resources will be made available, or when concrete results might emerge.

The term "Dublin Declaration" can refer to several different official or scientific statements:

• Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock (2023): A scientific consensus statement emphasizing the nutritional, environmental, and socio-economic benefits of animal agriculture and warning against generalized anti-livestock reductionism (The Dublin Declaration).

• Dublin Declaration on Trustworthy, Safe and Sovereign Artificial Intelligence (2026): A commitment adopted by participating EU member states on October 14, 2026, focused on AI safety, infrastructure investment, public sector innovation, and European AI sovereignty (DETE).

• Dublin Declaration on Maternal Healthcare (2012): A statement signed by medical practitioners asserting that direct abortion is not medically necessary to save a mother's life, used in global debates regarding abortion laws (Committee for Excellence in Maternal Healthcare).

• European Declaration on Global Education to 2050 (GE2050): Adopted during the Dublin Congress in November 2022 to integrate global education into learning systems (GENE).

• Dublin Declaration on Access to Environmental Information: A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) document relating to environmental transparency (UN Digital Library).

• Global Diaspora Summit Dublin Declaration: An outcome document focusing on diaspora engagement supported by the African Union and international partners (iDiaspora)

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