Von der Leyen pitches 'Only Once' plan using AI to cut EU business reporting
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed an "Only Once" plan under which companies would submit data to officials a single time, with AI helping public bodies use that data efficiently. Speaking at a closed-door gathering of her centre-right European People's Party in Taormina, Sicily, she argued businesses waste time reporting the same details to different authorities and that neither they nor Europe can afford it, according to a copy of her speech cited by Politico; it is the first time she has openly floated AI to ease corporate paperwork. The report-once idea already appeared in the Commission's March EU Inc. proposal, which creates a single EU-wide company structure and portal but does not mention AI. Von der Leyen gave no details on how an AI-based system would work, which companies it would cover, or when it would be introduced, and she separately urged national governments to sign a pact against "gold-plating" EU law.
It is the first high-level EU signal tying AI directly to cutting corporate compliance burdens, though the absence of detail makes it a policy signal rather than an actionable plan.
Ursula von der Leyen wants companies in the EU to provide officials with the same details just once, with AI helping public bodies use them. The European Commission president made the pitch on Monday, Politico reported, citing a copy of her speech.
#European Commission#Ursula von der Leyen#European People's Party#EU Inc.#GDPR#EU AI Act