European Union leaders met in Dublin on November 13 to discuss artificial intelligence and Ukraine, including how the bloc should be represented in possible peace negotiations. The European Council’s agenda lists both subjects; whether the Ukraine debate took precedence over AI was not confirmed by the official material.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged European Council President António Costa to establish a clear mandate for the EU’s role, arguing that multiple formats for engagement risked making the bloc less credible, according to Euronews. Costa said EU interests should be represented by the bloc’s institutions in line with its treaties.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden backed Costa as a natural choice, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the treaties put her and Costa in the lead on European security. Kallas also said leaders could choose another arrangement, though she argued they should follow the agreement on senior EU roles made in 2024.
Leaders differ on the negotiating format
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the E3 format involving Germany, France and the United Kingdom, saying it was an established framework for security guarantees. He said those countries were also working with Poland and Italy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for European unity, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Europeans to decide who will represent them by the end of November.
The leaders’ AI discussions were scheduled to cover Europe’s competitiveness and technological sovereignty, as well as AI’s effects on society. Arthur Mensch, chief executive of Mistral AI, and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton were due to address the gathering. Hinton has warned about risks from advanced AI, including the possibility that it could escape human control.
The European Council’s meeting agenda included AI and Ukraine. Ukraine financing and the EU budget are also due to be discussed at a special European Council meeting on November 26-27.
Clayton Ward