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Artificial Intelligence Act (Valid from 2024-08-01): Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems and general-purpose AI models, applying in stages from 2 February 2025 to 2 August 2028 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.
5 instruments (5 current) · 2 obligations · 4 claims · 13 milestones
Instruments
- Artificial Intelligence Act Valid from 2024-08-01
Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems and general-purpose AI models, applying in stages from 2 February 2025 to 2 August 2028 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.
- Digital Omnibus on AI Valid from 2026-07-27
Amends the AI Act timeline, adds Article 5 prohibitions on non-consensual intimate deepfakes and CSAM-type material, replaces Article 4 and adjusts sandbox and AI Office powers.
- European Innovation Act proposal Draft, no legal force
Commission proposal presented with a planned separate proposal on regulatory sandboxes.
- German AI market surveillance and innovation promotion act (KI-MIG) Valid from 2026-07-29
German act making the Bundesnetzagentur market surveillance authority, contact point and complaints body and providing for a sandbox.
- Spanish draft Organic Law for the proper use and governance of AI Draft, no legal force
Bill approved by the Council of Ministers on 26 May 2026 and before the Congress with amendments due by 30 June 2026.
Obligations
- Article 57(1) as originally worded
Member States had to ensure their competent authorities establish at least one national AI regulatory sandbox operational by 2 August 2026; the Omnibus moved this to 2 August 2027.
- Article 1(22)(a), amending Article 57(1)
Member States must ensure their competent authorities establish at least one national AI regulatory sandbox, operational by 2 August 2027, possibly jointly with other Member States.
Milestones
- Entry into force of the AI Act Met
- Chapters I and II (definitions, prohibitions) apply Met
- Governance, GPAI obligations and penalties apply; Member States designate authorities Met
- Omnibus enters into force Met
- German KI-MIG enters into force Met
- General application; Article 50 transparency rules and enforcement start Met
- Article 5(1)(ba), (bb), (1a), (1b) prohibitions begin to apply Upcoming
- Article 50(2) compliance deadline for generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 Upcoming
- Providers of GPAI models placed on the market before 2 August 2025 must comply Upcoming
- National AI regulatory sandbox operational in each Member State Moved
- Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex III high-risk systems Moved
- Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex I (product-embedded) high-risk systems Moved
- Delegated acts adding AI health and safety requirements to the Machinery Regulation apply Upcoming
Claims and evidence (4)
Member States must ensure at least one national AI regulatory sandbox is operational by 2 August 2027, replacing the earlier date of 2 August 2026.
Evidence and sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text
Member States shall ensure that their competent authorities establish at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level, which shall be operational by 2 August 2026.
- Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 (Digital Omnibus on AI), Official Journal text
1. Member States shall ensure that their competent authorities establish at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level, which shall be operational by 2 August 2027.
- AI Act Service Desk - implementation timeline
02 Aug 2027 Member States should have at least one AI regulatory sandbox per country operational 7.
- Innovation and AI regulatory sandboxes
This means that each Member State must ensure that at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level has been established by 2 August 2027.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text
The KI-MIG provides for an AI regulatory sandbox (Reallabor) at the Bundesnetzagentur.
Evidence and sources
- Bundesnetzagentur übernimmt zentrale Rolle bei der Umsetzung der KI-Verordnung
The core element is the establishment of an AI regulatory sandbox (Reallabor) at the Bundesnetzagentur, which enables, in a controlled environment, the development, training, testing and validation of innovative AI systems, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Innovation and AI regulatory sandboxes
This means that each Member State must ensure that at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level has been established by 2 August 2027.
- Bundesnetzagentur übernimmt zentrale Rolle bei der Umsetzung der KI-Verordnung
Spain held the closing event of its first AI regulatory sandbox on 12 June 2026, with 11 systems completing the pilot.
Evidence and sources
- Government successfully concludes Europe's first artificial intelligence sandbox
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service has held today the closing event of the first Regulatory Sandbox of artificial intelligence of the European Union.
- Government successfully concludes Europe's first artificial intelligence sandbox
The Commission proposed a European Innovation Act on 9 September 2026 and announced a separate proposal on regulatory sandboxes.
Evidence and sources
- Commission proposes new European Innovation Act (IP/26/1810)
Today, the Commission proposed a new European Innovation Act to help Europe's most innovative ideas be developed, financed and scaled up in Europe.
- Commission proposes new European Innovation Act (IP/26/1810)
In parallel with the European Innovation Act, the Commission will help innovators accelerate the transformation of innovative ideas into market solutions through a specific proposal on regulatory sandboxes.
- Commission proposes new European Innovation Act (IP/26/1810)