Dozens of European Parliament lawmakers have pressed the European Commission for details on Siemens chair Jim Hagemann Snabe's appointment as the EU's AI envoy, citing conflict-of-interest concerns.
The scrutiny of Jim Hagemann Snabe's appointment as EU AI envoy highlights tensions between industry influence and regulatory oversight in shaping Europe's artificial intelligence policy, raising questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
Dozens of European Parliament lawmakers are pressing the European Commission for more details regarding the appointment of Siemens chair Jim Hagemann Snabe as the EU's special adviser on industrial AI applications. Citing potential conflicts of interest, forty lawmakers, primarily from the Greens, Socialists & Democrats, Renew, and The Left parties, have formally requested to review the mandate, selection process, and conflict-of-interest assessment behind the designation. A written set of questions highlighted that steering Europe's industrial AI policy is entrusted to a single company's chairman, with the Commission's assessment remaining undisclosed. The European People's Party (EPP) did not co-sign the questions. Hagemann Snabe will report to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and tech chief Henna Virkkunen, both EPP members. Siemens had previously advocated for exempting industrial AI applications from the EU's AI Act. The Commission defended the appointment, stating a conflict-of-interest assessment was conducted and that Hagemann Snabe would recuse himself from specific roles at Google Cloud and C3.ai, while continuing as Siemens chair. Italian lawmaker Brando Benifei criticized the appointment as sending the "wrong political signal."