A group of 11 MEPs from across the political spectrum has questioned the European Commission over the appointment of Jim Hagemann Snabe as Special Envoy for Industrial Artificial Intelligence, citing potential conflicts of interest and concerns about the EU's AI strategy. The MEPs, led by Alexandra Geese (Verts/ALE) and including Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew), Birgit Sippel (S&D), and others, submitted a written parliamentary question on 11 June 2026, pressing the Commission on whether Snabe's role as Chairman of Siemens' Supervisory Board compromises his impartiality.
The question notes that Siemens, through its energy arm Siemens Energy, benefits significantly from the expansion of data centres driven by US hyperscalers, a trend that may not align with Europe's distinct AI development needs. The MEPs argue that Europe faces constraints such as high energy costs and limited land, requiring a model based on high-quality data, efficiency, and smaller sector-specific models rather than large-scale infrastructure. They ask the Commission to assess the risk of conflicts of interest, whether any US or EU member state government influenced the appointment, and how Siemens' push towards non-green energy aligns with EU climate goals.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal its stance on the independence of the AI envoy and the direction of EU industrial AI policy. The question highlights a cleavage between a large-scale, energy-intensive AI infrastructure model promoted by companies like Siemens and a more efficient, climate-friendly approach favoured by some MEPs and experts. If the Commission defends the appointment, it may prioritise business competitiveness and integration with US tech giants; if it acknowledges concerns, it could lean towards a more autonomous, sustainable AI strategy for Europe.