European Parliament backs EU accession to Council of Europe AI convention
The European Parliament has approved the EU’s conclusion of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, the first international treaty aimed at regulating AI in line with human rights and democratic principles.
On 11 March 2026, the European Parliament approved the European Union’s conclusion of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.
The vote is part of the EU’s internal legal procedure for joining the convention. By backing the decision, the Parliament has signalled institutional support for the EU to formally become a party to the treaty.
The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence is considered the first international, legally binding agreement designed to address the risks and governance of AI. It aims to ensure that the development and use of AI technologies respect fundamental rights, democratic values and the rule of law.
The treaty was negotiated within the Council of Europe, an international organisation focused on human rights and democratic governance, whose members include EU countries as well as several non-EU states.
Once fully concluded by the EU, the convention will guide how governments regulate AI systems, requiring them to introduce safeguards that prevent harmful uses of the technology while promoting transparency and accountability.
The Parliament’s approval marks a key step toward the EU formally joining the international framework.
