EU Outlines New Action Plan and Investments for AI and Cybersecurity

The European Commission has introduced a series of policy initiatives in 2026 to enhance the European Union’s capabilities in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as to expand the region’s digital infrastructure.

On 7 July 2026, the European Commission published an Action Plan on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. The plan is designed to improve the EU’s ability to assess advanced AI models before they are made available on the European market, aligning with requirements set out in the AI Act.

The Commission has stated that it will collaborate with the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) to develop a European framework for structured access to advanced AI tools for cybersecurity purposes. This effort is intended to provide a coordinated approach to leveraging AI in protecting digital assets and systems across the EU.

On 30 July 2026, the Commission initiated a call to establish up to seven AI Gigafactories throughout Europe. This initiative is supported by up to €10 billion in combined EU and national funding, with the expectation of attracting at least €20 billion in private investment to further boost AI infrastructure.

What the numbers show

• Up to €10 billion in EU and national funding is allocated for AI Gigafactories.
• The Cloud and AI Development Act aims to triple data centre capacity within 5 to 7 years.
• Europe had deployed 19 AI Factories and planned 13 regional antennas as of April 2026.

The AI Gigafactories initiative is intended to increase Europe’s computing resources for AI by providing infrastructure for training, inference, and fine-tuning of advanced AI models. These facilities are expected to play a role in supporting the development and deployment of frontier AI technologies within the EU.

Earlier, in February 2025, Commission President von der Leyen announced plans to mobilise €20 billion for the deployment of several AI Gigafactories across the European Union. This funding is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the EU’s position in artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

In April 2026, the AI Continent Action Plan reported that 19 AI Factories had been deployed across European supercomputers, with plans for 13 additional regional AI Factory antennas and new Gigafactories. These deployments are intended to expand the reach and capability of AI infrastructure across the continent.

In June 2026, the Commission adopted the proposal for the Cloud and AI Development Act. According to the proposal, the Act aims to at least triple the EU’s data centre capacity within five to seven years and meet projected needs by 2035. The proposal also seeks to simplify permitting processes for data centres and promote sustainable and innovative deployment throughout the EU.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.