EU considers delaying AI Act enforcement by up to one year due to catch-up concerns

The European Union is considering a pause on enforcing key provisions of its landmark 2024 Artificial Intelligence Act, potentially delaying compliance requirements for high-risk AI systems by up to a year beyond the planned August 2025 deadline. This potential retreat marks a significant shift for the EU from being a global AI regulation leader to a region increasingly worried about falling behind the U.S. and China in the AI race.

What you should know: The EU’s tech chief Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, has acknowledged that parts of the AI Act may need postponing if technical standards aren’t ready in time.

• Next August represents a major enforcement milestone when rules kick in for AI systems that pose “serious risks” to health, safety, and fundamental rights, including everyday tools used in HR, education, and judicial systems.
• Companies are still waiting for technical standards they need to comply with the law, creating uncertainty about meeting the deadline.
• Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi last week called the law a “source of uncertainty” and advocated for pausing high-risk AI rules “until we better understand the drawbacks.”

The big picture: Heavy lobbying and vocal industry concerns have gained traction over the summer, with the European Commission leaving the door open for delays.

• One proposal under discussion would give companies breaching high-risk AI rules a pass to continue business as usual for up to a year longer than originally planned.
• Poland has circulated a paper suggesting delaying fines for companies that breach high-risk AI rules by six or twelve months, warning that European startups could relocate to “less regulated jurisdictions.”
• Sweden and the Czech Republic have also expressed support for a pause.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders have been vocal about their concerns regarding implementation timelines.

• In July, some of Europe’s top CEOs called for a two-year pause “to address the uncertainty.”
• Poland expressed concerns about the law’s “tight implementation deadlines” in its proposal to fellow EU countries.
• Dutch Greens lawmaker Kim van Sparrentak remains opposed to delays, calling it “quite a bizarre proposal to start reviewing this all, while the AI Act has not yet been implemented.”

Why this matters: A decision to pause enforcement would validate industry concerns that the EU failed to deliver a coherent and enforceable rulebook that adequately balances risk with business interests.

• The move would solidify Europe’s surprising pivot from AI regulation frontrunner to a region fearful of competitive disadvantage.
• The Commission has opened a consultation on simplifying EU tech rulebooks, indicating “targeted adjustments” to the AI Act are on the table.

What’s next: EU countries are set to discuss Poland’s delay proposal on Tuesday, while European Parliament lawmakers have scheduled a meeting for October 15 to address the simplification efforts.

• The Commission is expected to present its plan to boost AI adoption on October 8, with a final decision on the digital omnibus package expected in November.
• Even opponents of changing the law are now privately factoring in some kind of delay, suggesting momentum is building toward postponement.