Harmonizing Global AI Governance: The EU AI Treaty's Role And Impact

Introduction

In a time where artificial intelligence (hereafter "AI") is increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, the need for a comprehensive framework to ensure its ethical and responsible use has never been more pressing. The sense of this urgency is at the heart of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law¹ (hereafter "EU AI Treaty"), the world's first legally binding international instrument on AI.

The EU AI Treaty was negotiated by the 46 member states of the Council of Europe alongside 11 non-members (including the US and Canada)² and was opened for signature on September 5, 2024, during a conference of Ministers of Justice in Lithuania³. Several non-state actors participated in the negotiations, among them UNESCO representatives.