On May 19, 2025, CDT Europe organized a second workshop to discuss the implementation of the AI Act. This event brought together civil society representatives following a similar gathering in June 2024, just before the regulation came into force.
The workshop was divided into three sessions. The first session addressed concerns and lessons learned from the Code of Practice on General-Purpose AI (GPAI) models. Participants noted that the third draft marked a significant decline in fundamental rights protection compared to earlier versions, attributing this to increased lobbying by providers. Civil society concerns were largely ignored, prompting a joint letter to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen. There was consensus on the need for continued collaboration among civil society organizations (CSOs) ahead of the final Code of Practice expected by August.
The second session focused on enforcement and fundamental rights. Attendees highlighted the critical role of fundamental rights authorities in enforcing the AI Act but expressed concerns about overburdening under-resourced authorities and unclear cooperation frameworks between different bodies. Insights were shared from Denmark's Institute for Human Rights and Belgium's Unia regarding ongoing projects related to Article 27 of the AI Act and broader equality protections.
In the final session, discussions centered around procedural shortcomings related to simplification proposals like those affecting corporate sustainability directives. Concerns were raised about amendments being made without proper stakeholder consultation or impact assessments, which contradicted better regulation guidelines. Despite assurances from the European Commission that essential laws would remain intact, participants noted far-reaching changes that undermined trustworthiness.
The workshop provided an opportunity for civil society to convene and address these issues amid ongoing calls for simplification of regulations like GDPR. Through such exchanges, CDT Europe aims to foster collaboration among CSOs in addressing human rights challenges in the digital age.