EU-backed coalition vies for role in global AI order

The US, China, UK and France have so far stayed out of a new call to keep frontier systems “under human control” A group of mostly European states and middle powers is seeking to build a new global coalition on artificial intelligence, as countries outside the US-China technology race scramble to retain influence over how increasingly powerful systems are governed.

Leaders representing 20 countries, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, signed the declaration on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-level Week in New York, calling for frontier AI to remain “under human direction, oversight and control.” The initiative was spearheaded by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

The world’s two leading AI powers – the US and China – did not sign.

Neither did several major European players, including the UK, France and Italy, although Germany, Spain and a number of smaller EU states joined the initiative.

The statement remains open for additional endorsements.

AI can improve people’s lives, advance science and strengthen our economies.

At the same time, the rapid development of AI models creates risks that we must manage together.

We can choose to compete, to co-operate, or to step back.

I hope we choose co-operation.

President… pic.twitter.com/DR7HaaJDHp — Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) September 21, 2026 The declaration warns that advanced AI systems have already circumvented testing safeguards, exploited vulnerabilities and gained unauthorized access to real-world systems.

It calls for mandatory pre-deployment testing, independent evaluations with sufficient access to frontier models, common international standards and shared reporting of serious safety incidents.

Read more US proposes AI alert system with China It stops short, however, of demanding a pause or slowdown in AI development.

Instead, its backers want UN members to explore creating an international institution capable of setting standards, verifying compliance and convening governments when AI systems cross certain capability thresholds.

Stubb acknowledged that bringing the dominant AI powers on board will be crucial, telling Politico that the goal was to create “momentum” and eventually attract both Washington and Beijing.