Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 1 July 2026, defended the capacity of the EU AI Office and ruled out upgrading its institutional position, while pointing to future staffing increases under the Digital Omnibus and the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The answer, responding to a question from MEP Fabio De Masi (NI), aims to reassure stakeholders that the office is adequately equipped to enforce the Artificial Intelligence Act, despite criticism over staffing and access to advanced models like Anthropic's Mythos.
Virkkunen stated that the AI Office, a directorate within DG CNECT, employs over 140 staff, including more than 40 technical staff in the AI Safety Unit and 35 in the Regulatory and Compliance Unit. She noted that there are no plans to change its institutional position, which mirrors that of directorates enforcing the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. The Digital Omnibus on AI will bring additional staffing, and the next Multiannual Financial Framework from 2028 will determine further resources.
On the specific issue of Mythos, Virkkunen highlighted that Anthropic is a signatory to the EU General-Purpose AI Code of Practice and has committed to assess and mitigate systemic risks, including cybersecurity risks. The AI Office has held technical meetings with Anthropic and has unique access to providers' internal safety practices. Once enforcement powers apply in August 2026, requests for information and model access will become mandatory. The answer also noted that on 9 June 2026, Anthropic made a safeguarded Mythos-class model, Fable 5, publicly available, but withdrew it after US government intervention on 12 June 2026.
additional staffing via the Digital Omnibus and future MFF, and mandatory model access from August 2026. However, it offers no immediate upgrade to the office's hierarchy or independent crisis response role. Policy orientation is towards gradual strengthening within existing structures, relying on voluntary codes and future legal powers. Institutional follow-up will depend on the Digital Omnibus legislative process and the MFF negotiations, with enforcement powers kicking in from August 2026.