Background

European cities and regions are increasingly integrating AI to improve internal efficiency (e.g., internal AI agents), deliver public services (AI-driven citizen-oriented services), and urban planning (traffic management, environmental monitoring, citizen engagement). At the same time, reliance on Big Tech digital infrastructure is creating concerns about technological dependence, data protection, ethical governance and alignment with European values.

In this context, AI sovereignty has emerged as a critical topic. It closely aligns with EU priorities such as tech sovereignty, with a recent policy package proposing to host key infrastructures such as data centres and chips production in Europe. Local and regional administrations are increasingly faced with strategic choices, whether to pursue emerging sovereign European open-source AI solutions, or to use capabilities of Big Tech providers while aiming to retain control over data. Other challenges include limited political support and legal uncertainty when it comes to defining “European” solutions.

Objective

This webinar, organised by the Living-in.EU Legal WG in collaboration with the Eurocities WG Data, will address the question how local public administrations can give their employees and citizens access to AI without compromising on security, responsibility and public oversight. Representatives from European cities such as Aarhus will share their experience and approach to digital sovereignty in general, and also with a specific focus on AI.

Discussions will also focus on how local authorities navigate national approaches, as member states such as make digital sovereignty a strategic priority and move towards open-source tools for public administrations. Beyond the question of choosing the right provider, the webinar will also explore the role of control over data, hosting, model access, interoperability and deployment of AI solutions.

Agenda

More details on the agenda will be added shortly.