---
title: "European Economic Area — Sandboxes & Transitional Relief | Global AI Monitor"
canonical: https://artificial-intelligence.gi/jurisdictions/european-economic-area/sandboxes-and-transitional-relief/
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description: "European Economic Area — Sandboxes & Transitional Relief: 11 Sandboxes & Transitional Relief Active ▾ # Artificial Intelligence Act (Valid from 2024-08-01): Horizontal EU regulation setting risk-based rules for AI systems and general-purp"
generated_at: 2026-10-25T22:24:54Z
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# European Economic Area — Sandboxes & Transitional Relief | Global AI Monitor

### 11Sandboxes & Transitional ReliefActive▾#

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 · 2 obligations · 4 claims · Next: 2 Dec 2026 (Article 5(1)(ba), (bb), (1a), (1b) prohibitions begin to apply)

5 instruments (5 current) · 2 obligations · 4 claims · 13 milestones

Instruments

- Artificial Intelligence Act Valid from 2024-08-01Horizontal 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.Binding · Authority: European AI Office (European Commission), European Data Protection Supervisor · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj)
- Digital Omnibus on AI Valid from 2026-07-27Amends 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.Binding · Authority: European AI Office (European Commission) · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/b459c07f-86fb-11f1-bf5e-01aa75ed71a1.0006.01/DOC_1)
- European Innovation Act proposal Draft, no legal forceCommission proposal presented with a planned separate proposal on regulatory sandboxes.Verified 8 Oct 2026
- German AI market surveillance and innovation promotion act (KI-MIG) Valid from 2026-07-29German act making the Bundesnetzagentur market surveillance authority, contact point and complaints body and providing for a sandbox.Binding · Authority: Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.recht.bund.de/bgbl/1/2026/223/regelungstext.pdf?__blob=publicationFile)
- Spanish draft Organic Law for the proper use and governance of AI Draft, no legal forceBill approved by the Council of Ministers on 26 May 2026 and before the Congress with amendments due by 30 June 2026.Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L15/CONG/BOCG/A/BOCG-15-A-97-1.PDF)

Obligations

- Article 57(1) as originally wordedMember 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.other · Applies to: other · Artificial Intelligence Act
- 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.other · Applies to: other · Digital Omnibus on AI

Milestones

- 1 Aug 2024Entry into force of the AI Act MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Feb 2025Chapters I and II (definitions, prohibitions) apply MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Aug 2025Governance, GPAI obligations and penalties apply; Member States designate authorities MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 27 Jul 2026Omnibus enters into force MetDigital Omnibus on AI
- 29 Jul 2026German KI-MIG enters into force MetGerman AI market surveillance and innovation promotion act (KI-MIG)
- 2 Aug 2026General application; Article 50 transparency rules and enforcement start MetArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Dec 2026Article 5(1)(ba), (bb), (1a), (1b) prohibitions begin to apply UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Dec 2026Article 50(2) compliance deadline for generative AI systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026 UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2027Providers of GPAI models placed on the market before 2 August 2025 must comply UpcomingArtificial Intelligence Act
- 2 Aug 2027National AI regulatory sandbox operational in each Member State MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Dec 2027Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex III high-risk systems MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2028Chapter III Sections 1-3 apply to Annex I (product-embedded) high-risk systems MovedDigital Omnibus on AI
- 2 Aug 2028Delegated acts adding AI health and safety requirements to the Machinery Regulation apply UpcomingDigital Omnibus on AI

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.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 2 Aug 2027 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 57(1) (original 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](https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/b459c07f-86fb-11f1-bf5e-01aa75ed71a1.0006.01/DOC_1) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Article 1(22)(a), amending Article 57(1)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](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/timeline/timeline-implementation-eu-ai-act) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Timeline item 602 Aug 2027 Member States should have at least one AI regulatory sandbox per country operational 7.
- [Innovation and AI regulatory sandboxes](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Areas/Digitalisation/AI/05_Innovation/start.html) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · IntroductionThis means that each Member State must ensure that at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level has been established by 2 August 2027.

- The KI-MIG provides for an AI regulatory sandbox (Reallabor) at the Bundesnetzagentur.Confidence: Probable · As of 29 Jul 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Bundesnetzagentur übernimmt zentrale Rolle bei der Umsetzung der KI-Verordnung](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2026/20260729_KI_VO.html) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Innovationsförderung und KI-ReallaboreThe 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](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Areas/Digitalisation/AI/05_Innovation/start.html) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · IntroductionThis means that each Member State must ensure that at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level has been established by 2 August 2027.

- Spain held the closing event of its first AI regulatory sandbox on 12 June 2026, with 11 systems completing the pilot.Confidence: Probable · As of 12 Jun 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Government successfully concludes Europe's first artificial intelligence sandbox](https://digital.gob.es/en/comunicacion/notas-prensa/secretaria-digitalizacion-e-inteligencia-artificial/2026/06/el-gobierno-concluye-con-exito-el-primer-sandbox-de-inteligencia) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · BodyThe 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.

- The Commission proposed a European Innovation Act on 9 September 2026 and announced a separate proposal on regulatory sandboxes.Confidence: Confirmed · As of 9 Sep 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Commission proposes new European Innovation Act (IP/26/1810)](https://europa.eu/newsroom/ecpc-failover/pdf/ip-26-1810_en.pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Opening paragraphToday, 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)](https://europa.eu/newsroom/ecpc-failover/pdf/ip-26-1810_en.pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Section: innovation-friendly regulatory frameworkIn 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.

Open evidence