The EU AI Office Must Prioritise Setting up the Advisory Forum

Key Takeaways

• 35 groups demand EU AI Office set Advisory Forum timeline
• Forum intended to embed civil‑society input into AI Act enforcement
• Delay risks marginalising communities affected by high‑risk AI systems
• Current “Reality Checks” rely mainly on industry participants
• EU Civil Society Strategy calls for meaningful stakeholder engagement

Pulse Analysis

The European Union’s AI Act is widely regarded as the world’s most comprehensive framework for regulating artificial intelligence, but its success hinges on inclusive implementation. Central to this is the Advisory Forum, a newly mandated body that should channel expertise from civil society, academia, and affected communities into the AI Office and AI Board. While the call for expressions of interest closed in September 2025, the Office has yet to set a launch date, leaving a critical gap in the governance architecture.

The absence of a functioning Forum has concrete consequences. Policy debates on high‑risk AI systems, prohibited uses, and fundamental‑rights safeguards are currently confined to informal “Reality Checks” dominated by industry players. This narrow participation risks skewing regulatory outcomes toward commercial interests and away from the lived experiences of those most vulnerable to algorithmic harm. Moreover, the delay hampers the ability to stress‑test the AI Omnibus—a set of supplementary measures intended to refine the Act’s enforcement—without diverse stakeholder feedback.

The EU Civil Society Strategy, adopted earlier this year, emphasizes that meaningful engagement is a cornerstone of European policymaking. For the AI Act to retain credibility, the AI Office must not only convene the Advisory Forum promptly but also embed transparent procedures that empower under‑represented groups. Companies operating in the EU will benefit from clearer guidance and a more balanced regulatory environment, while citizens gain stronger protections against AI‑driven risks. Prompt action now can restore confidence in the EU’s AI governance model and set a global benchmark for inclusive tech regulation.