Thessaloniki hosts global summit on AI’s role in parliaments

Thessaloniki is hosting a high-level international meeting on the role of artificial intelligence in democratic institutions, as heads of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment (EPTA) network gather in the northern Greek city.

Around 20 representatives from Europe, the United States, and Japan met at the Research Dissemination Centre of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to examine how AI is integrated into parliamentary work. Discussions focused on the practical use of AI tools already deployed in legislative environments. These include applications for summarisation, translation, transcription, literature searches, and support in drafting and analysing reports.

Participants noted that several parliamentary bodies are moving towards more advanced uses, such as policy scenario development, analysis of public consultations, media monitoring, and processing large datasets. The overall trend suggests AI is becoming established primarily as a support tool rather than a substitute for human decision-making.

A significant part of the meeting focused on the regulatory frameworks surrounding AI adoption. Issues such as reliability, transparency, data protection, cybersecurity, and human oversight were identified as central concerns. While many institutions have introduced rules or guidelines, participants reported uneven implementation. Transparency, in particular, remains an open issue, with no common approach on when and how AI use should be disclosed in parliamentary procedures.

Examples from across Europe highlighted differing levels of maturity. Sweden has incorporated technology assessment into legislative processes; Poland has developed a governance model with strict data-use limitations and clear accountability; Luxembourg applies an AI charter with structured oversight and staff training; and Spain‘s Oficina C has introduced guidelines emphasising risk assessment, privacy protection, and mandatory human supervision.

Participants acknowledged both the benefits and risks of AI. While the technology can accelerate policy analysis, improve documentation, and support decision-making, concerns remain about inaccuracies, algorithmic bias, and privacy. There was broad agreement that AI cannot replace human judgement and must operate under continuous human supervision and verification.

Greece’s parliament is actively contributing to the European dialogue, investing in applications to strengthen research and documentation, and has signed a cooperation memorandum to ensure the institutional security of AI use. 

The meeting is held under Greece’s 2026 presidency of the EPTA network. Thessaloniki MP Stratos Simopoulos, chair of the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology, said the meeting is important not only for technocrats in European parliaments but also for citizens, stating that “through AI tools they will not only have access to the content of parliamentary sessions, but will also be able to compare policies and make decisions concerning the future. In this way, democracy will be deepened.”

by Sophia Agnanti – adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba