Key facts
- The European Commission is using an AI tool called GPT@EC to expedite its work with EU candidate countries.
- GPT@EC is a generative AI tool developed in-house by the Commission for staff use, launched in 2024.
- The tool evaluates candidate countries' legal frameworks for compliance with EU legislation.
- This initiative addresses the increased workload of DG ENEST due to a growing number of membership applicants.
- Skepticism exists among candidate country officials regarding AI's capability for complex legal assessments, favoring its use for translation and simpler tasks.
- Concerns about potential errors due to over-reliance on AI have been voiced.
The European Commission is leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline its engagement with countries aspiring to join the European Union. Two anonymous Commission officials revealed that their department, responsible for managing membership bids, is utilizing a proprietary AI tool named GPT@EC. This tool assists in evaluating candidate countries' legal frameworks to ensure compliance with existing EU legislation, a critical step in the enlargement process.
The initiative comes as the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) faces a significantly increased workload. This surge is attributed to a growing number of nations actively pursuing EU membership, a trend amplified by geopolitical events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos noted that the department has achieved more in the past 16-17 months than in the preceding 15 years.
GPT@EC, a generative AI tool developed in-house by the Commission, was introduced in 2024, partly in response to privacy and security concerns associated with American AI services. Despite the Commission's efforts to manage the growing demands, officials from some candidate countries have voiced skepticism. They suggest that AI's application should be confined to tasks like translation and other simpler duties, rather than complex legal analysis. These officials acknowledge the increased pressure on Commission staff but caution against over-reliance on AI, fearing potential errors.
Several countries are making notable progress in their accession journeys. Ukraine and Moldova recently advanced to the initial phase of membership talks, while Montenegro has closed two additional chapters of its accession negotiations, bringing its total to 16 out of 33. Albania is also progressing with its application, though progress in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Georgia has been slower or stalled. Iceland is set to hold a referendum on potentially relaunching its EU membership bid.