Strasbourg, 2 September 2024 CAI(2024)13
COMMITTEE
ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
(CAI)
10th Plenary Meeting
Strasbourg
11 - 14 March 2024
MEETING REPORT
Prepared by the Secretariat
I. Introduction
1. The Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence (hereinafter referred to as “the CAI” or “the Committee”) held its 10th Plenary meeting in Strasbourg, from 11 to 14 March 2024, in conformity with its terms of reference adopted by the Committee of Ministers.
II. List of items discussed at the meeting and decisions taken by the CAI
Agenda item 1. Opening of the meeting
2. The Chair, Ambassador Thomas Schneider (Switzerland), opened the meeting and welcomed the Members, Participants and Observers. The Chair thanked everybody for the two years of hard work and commitment, and pointed out that the text of the Framework Convention was almost finalised.
3. The Chair further reminded the Committee that in view of mounting pressures on human rights and democracy globally, it was crucial to reach a comprehensive agreement on a legally binding framework tackling the challenges resulting from this game-changing technology. He invited everyone to display the necessary flexibility so that such agreement could be reached.
4. Ms Hanne JUNCHER, Director of the Integrity, Security and Rule of Law Directorate, addressed her opening words to the Committee stating that the negotiations regarding the draft Framework Convention were almost complete and that the final agreement on a small number of outstanding provisions was well within the reach of the Committee. She wished the Committee good luck with this important task and also thanked the many civil society and industry representatives for their contribution to the elaboration of the Framework Convention.
Agenda item 2. Adoption of the Agenda and Order of Business
5. The Committee decided to adopt, without any modifications, the agenda and order of business. It also adopted the report of the 9th Plenary meeting of the Committee.
Agenda item 3. Examination of the Draft Framework Convention and Explanatory Report (Plenary Session)
6. The Committeeexamined, discussed and approved the draft Framework Convention as revised by the Drafting Group (see agenda item 4). At the end of examination of the draft text, ENNHRI made a statement[1] (which the CAIDP joined and EQUINET partly joined) expressing concerns regarding the contents of the draft Framework Convention and the manner of its examination in the CAI, of which the Committee took note.
7. The Committee further examined and discussed the draft Explanatory Report, having instructed the Secretariat to conduct a written procedure for certain outstanding paragraphs.
8. The Committee instructed the Secretariat to submit the draft Framework Convention to the Committee of Ministers with a view to formal adoption, and the draft Explanatory Report to be taken note of.
Agenda item 4. Examination of the Draft Framework Convention (Drafting Group Session)
9. In line with the instructions received at the Plenary sessions, the Drafting Group prepared the text of the Draft Framework Convention and its Explanatory Report in view of their subsequent approval by the Committee (see agenda item 3).
Agenda item 5. Date and place of the next meeting
10. The Committee decided to hold its 11th Plenary meeting in Strasbourg at a later date.
Agenda item 6. Any other business
11. No points were raised under this agenda item.
Agenda item 7. Adoption of the List of Decisions, and close of the meeting
12. The Committee decided to adopt the List of Decisions.
End of the meeting