Italy and Hungary have failed to meet a critical legal deadline under the European Union’s AI Act, which required member states to appoint designated bodies to ensure compliance with EU fundamental rights in the deployment of artificial intelligence tools, according to data released by the European Commission.
Specifically, each of the 27 EU member states was required to identify relevant authorities and make this list publicly accessible by November 2 of last year.
The number of designated authorities varies among member states, reflecting the implementation of national laws and the specific mandates assigned to these oversight bodies. For instance, Bulgaria has appointed nine authorities, including the national Ombudsman and the Data Protection Authority, while Portugal has identified 14. In contrast, Slovakia listed only two, and Spain designated 22.
“We are collaborating with member states to ensure a uniform understanding of which public authorities or bodies should be designated and to facilitate effective cooperation between these entities and the future market surveillance authorities,” the spokesperson elaborated.
The AI Act came into effect in August 2024 and has been undergoing gradual implementation. By August of this year, member states are also expected to appoint a market surveillance authority responsible for enforcing the legislation. The Commission has yet to disclose which countries have officially notified the appointment of their respective watchdogs.
