V4: Joint Declaration on AI Development

The Visegrád Group’s cooperation in bringing about technological development serves the interests of all citizens and promotes digital sovereignty, economic resilience and prosperity, the declaration said.

AI is key to the sustainable growth, innovative capabilities and competitiveness of the region, and capable of creating jobs, ensuring a more effective state and increasing companies’ productivity, it said.

The committees said they are ready to cooperate to develop a coordinated AI strategy to help link research, industry and public services, especially in creating shared data and innovation platforms.

The declaration said the member states are supporting the digitalisation of SMEs through regional innovation programmes, mentor networks and sandbox environments, especially the development of ethical, transparent, and safe AI developments.

They are also focusing on education and training, it said. Further, signatories pledged to promote a better representation of the V4 countries’ interests and experience in the EU’s AI policies.

They called for EU funding for AI development to be raised significantly, and said they would support knowledge exchange between their parliaments.

The declaration was signed by the Hungarian parliament’s economic committee, the Czech Senate’s committee for national economy, agriculture and transport, the economic committee of the Slovak National Assembly, and the Sejm’s committee for digitalization, innovation and modern technology, as well as its committee for energy and climate affairs, and the committee for state assets.