P9_TA(2020)0162

Setting up a special committee on artificial intelligence in a digital age, and defining its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office

European Parliament decision of 18 June 2020 on setting up a special committee on artificial intelligence in a digital age, and defining its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office (2020/2684(RSO))

(2021/C 362/42)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the proposal from the Conference of Presidents,

— having regard to Rule 207 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the European Union has clear competences in the area of the digital agenda and artificial intelligence as per Articles 4, 13, 16, 26, 173, 179, 180, 181, 182, 186 and 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

B. whereas the outcome of the special committee hereby set up should be a holistic approach providing a common, long-term position that highlights the EU’s key values and objectives relating to artificial intelligence in the digital age;

C. whereas it is important to ensure that the digital transition is human-centric and consistent with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;

D. whereas the use of artificial intelligence entails significant fundamental rights challenges such as, but not limited to, the protection of personal data and the right to privacy, as well as significant technological developments and the deployment of innovative solutions;

E. whereas the digital transition will have an impact on every aspect of the economy and society;

F. whereas digitalisation will transform our industry and markets and the existing legislation should, therefore, be adapted;

G. whereas it is important that the European Union speaks with one voice, to avoid the fragmentation of the single market resulting from differences in national legislation;

1. Decides to set up a special committee on artificial intelligence in a digital age, vested with the following strictly defined responsibilities: (a) to analyse the future impact of artificial intelligence in the digital age on the EU economy, in particular on skills, employment, fintech, education, health, transport, tourism, agriculture, environment, defence, industry, energy and e-government; (b) to further investigate the challenge of deploying artificial intelligence and its contribution to business value and economic growth; (c) to analyse the approach of third countries and their contribution to complementing EU actions; (d) to submit to Parliament’s responsible standing committees an evaluation defining common EU objectives in the medium- and long-term and include the major steps needed to reach them, using as a starting point the following Commission communications published on 19 February 2020: — Shaping Europe’s digital future (COM(2020)0067), — A European Strategy for Data (COM(2020)0066), — White Paper on Artificial Intelligence — a European approach to excellence and trust (COM(2020)0065), — Report on the safety and liability implications of Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and robotics (COM(2020)0064), including a roadmap on ‘A Europe fit for the digital age’, which shall provide the EU with a strategic plan defining its common objectives in the medium- and long-term and the major steps needed to reach them;

2. Stresses that any recommendation of the special committee shall be presented to and, if necessary, followed up by Parliament’s competent standing committees;

3. Decides that the powers, staff and available resources of Parliament’s standing committees with responsibility for matters concerning the adoption, monitoring and implementation of Union legislation relating to the area of responsibility of the special committee will not be affected or duplicated, and will thus remain unchanged;

4. in camera ; decides further that witnesses and experts shall have the right to make a statement or provide testimony in camera ; Decides that whenever the special committee work includes the hearing of evidence of a confidential nature, testimonies involving personal data, or exchanges of views or hearings with authorities and bodies on confidential information, including scientific studies or parts thereof granted confidentiality status under Article 63 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ) , the meetings shall be held; decides further that witnesses and experts shall have the right to make a statement or provide testimony

5. Decides that the list of people invited to public meetings, the list of those who attend them and the minutes of such meetings shall be made public;

6. Decides that confidential documents that have been received by the special committee shall be assessed in accordance with the procedure set out in Rule 221 of its Rules of Procedure; decides further that such information shall be used exclusively for the purposes of drawing up the final report of the special committee;

7. Decides that the special committee shall have 33 Members;

8. Decides that the term of office of the special committee shall be 12 months and that its term of office shall start running from the date of its constituent meeting;

9. Decides that the special committee may present to Parliament a mid-term report, and that it shall present a final report containing factual findings and recommendations concerning the measures and initiatives to be taken, without prejudice to the competences of the standing committees in accordance with Annex VI of its Rules of Procedure.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1).