Ursula Von der Leyen Proposes AI-Powered 'Once and Done' Data Reporting for EU Businesses
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a new initiative to streamline data reporting for businesses within the EU. During a speech to the European People’s Party in Taormina, Sicily, she introduced the concept of an “only once” rule, where companies would submit data just once, and AI would facilitate its sharing among public bodies.
Businesses currently face the burden of reporting the same details repeatedly to various authorities, a process that Von der Leyen believes is both time-consuming and expensive. She argued that this inefficiencies cannot continue, especially as Europe seeks to remain competitive globally.
"And this is why we will introduce ‘Only Once’, to report data only once – and with the help of AI, the administration will ensure efficient use," she stated, according to Politico.
While the idea of streamlined reporting is not new, this is the first time Von der Leyen has explicitly mentioned using AI to achieve it. The Commission previously proposed a similar concept in its EU Inc. initiative, which aimed to create a single company structure across all member states. That plan, however, did not include AI.
Von der Leyen did not provide specific details about how an AI-driven system would work, the scope of companies it would cover, or a timeline for implementation.
In the same speech, she also urged national governments to sign a pact on gold-plating, the practice of adding extra national rules on top of EU laws. She proposed that each government list and explain any added rules, as well as assess their impact on businesses and the single market.
This push is part of a broader effort by the Commission to cut red tape, including recent updates to digital laws like the GDPR and the AI Act.