European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 15 June 2026, pushed back against claims of serious shortcomings in EU artificial intelligence governance, arguing that the European Court of Auditors report cited by the questioner does not actually contain the alleged criticisms. The answer, responding to a parliamentary question from Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), clarifies that the referenced audit concerns the EU's advisory bodies, not Commission AI policy, and defends the EU's coordination with Member States as fully compliant with subsidiarity.
Garraud had asked what measures the Commission would take to address fragmented funding, overlap with national industrial strategies, and compliance with subsidiarity and sound financial management under Article 5 TEU. Virkkunen's response, however, first corrects the premise: the Court of Auditors report does not stress fragmented initiatives, lack of performance indicators, or shortcomings in assessing EU funding impact. Instead, it examines the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
On substance, Virkkunen asserts that the Commission has closely coordinated AI activities with Member States through existing fora. She cites the preparation of the Apply AI Strategy, which drew on national AI strategies and included direct interviews with key government entities and discussions in the AI Board. These contacts, she says, identified practical gaps and shaped a coordinated approach, all in line with subsidiarity.
The answer offers no new concrete measures, numerical targets, or deadlines, instead reiterating existing coordination mechanisms. It signals that the Commission sees no need for fundamental reform of AI governance structures. Institutional follow-up is likely limited to continued work on the Apply AI Strategy, with no indication of additional oversight or legislative proposals in response to Garraud's concerns.
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