In a significant milestone for the future of artificial intelligence, yesterday the European Commission has signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence on behalf of the European Union. The treaty is the world’s first international, legally binding document on AI, setting new global standards for responsible AI development and deployment.
The Convention, which now counts Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, the UK, the US, and the EU among its first signatories, commits these nations to align their AI practices with core values on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law—all while fostering innovation and building public trust in AI technologies.
As Marija Pejčinović, Secretary General of the Council of Europe emphasised:
The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence is a first-of-its-kind, global treaty that will ensure that AI upholds people’s rights. It is a response to the need for an international legal standard supported by states in different continents, which share the same values to harness the benefits of AI, while mitigating the risks. With this new treaty, we aim to ensure responsible use of AI that respects human rights, the rule of law, and democracy.”
This global agreement complements ongoing efforts in the European Union to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI. The EU AI Act, a landmark regulation, shares many of the Convention’s principles, including a risk-based approach, obligations for high-risk AI systems, and a focus on trustworthy, human-centric AI. The EU AI Act also mandates transparency in AI-generated content and interactions with AI systems.
Other countries are also making strides towards AI regulation. In the US, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI earlier this year, aiming to increase oversight and safety. California’s Senate Bill 1047 seeks to enhance AI safety standards, and the UK’s AI Safety Institute is exploring ways to regulate powerful AI models.
The signing of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI marks a crucial step toward a coordinated, global approach to AI regulation. By agreeing on high-level principles, countries are moving towards ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a way that protects fundamental rights and enhances safety while driving innovation.
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