Nine Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are strengthening cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) with the aim of pooling regional capacities and increasing their influence in European AI policy. Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia and Romania signed the Prague Declaration on Artificial Intelligence in September 2026, establishing a framework for cooperation in knowledge and talent, infrastructure, EU policy coordination, regulation and future regional initiatives.
For CEE countries, closer cooperation could help address some of the structural challenges they face individually. While the region has a strong industrial base, skilled workforce and growing technology ecosystems, individual countries often lack the scale needed to build competitive computing infrastructure, attract sufficient investment and develop large AI markets.
Prague Declaration sets the framework for regional cooperation
The Prague Declaration on Artificial Intelligence was signed on 3 September 2026 during the CEE AI Summit. The non-binding declaration identifies five main areas of cooperation: knowledge and talent, shared infrastructure, coordination of EU policy positions, regulatory cooperation and continued regional cooperation.
The proposed measures include establishing an informal network of contact points at ministerial and expert level to facilitate the exchange of information on national AI initiatives and improve coordination ahead of discussions at EU level. The declaration also foresees opportunities for cross-border regulatory sandboxes and joint pilot projects.
Although the declaration does not create legally binding commitments or include a dedicated budget, it sends a political signal that CEE countries are willing to coordinate their efforts. A more coordinated regional approach could also give them a stronger voice in discussions on the future direction of European AI policy.
Pooling resources to overcome structural challenges
The CEE region has several assets that could support the development of AI, including strong industrial capabilities, skilled researchers and engineers, and growing technology and start-up ecosystems. At the same time, countries in the region face common challenges related to the size of their domestic markets, access to capital and the availability of advanced computing infrastructure. Regional cooperation could therefore help countries combine their existing strengths and avoid duplicating efforts.
The private sector is also calling for closer cooperation. The CEE Digital Coalition has proposed measures including the creation of a regional AI fund, improved access to capital for growing technology companies and stronger support for SMEs adopting AI technologies. More coordinated approaches to regulation and investment could further strengthen the region’s position within the European AI ecosystem.
The objective is not to create a separate CEE bloc within the EU, but rather to build stronger regional capacities that can contribute to European competitiveness and complement cooperation with other EU Member States and partners.
AI Gigafactories offer a strategic opportunity
One of the most significant areas for regional cooperation is the development of AI Gigafactories.
In July 2026, the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking launched a call for the establishment of four medium-sized and three large AI Gigafactories. The initiative is expected to mobilise around €10 billion in public funding from the EU and Member States and approximately €20 billion in private investment.
The Prague Declaration includes a commitment by its signatories to support one another in efforts to attract AI Gigafactories to the region.
Several cooperation initiatives are already emerging. Czechia and Poland have signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation on an AI factory, while Czechia has also concluded similar agreements with Slovakia and Croatia. Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Lithuania are considering a broader joint application, while Romania is preparing its own bid.
For the CEE region, an AI Gigafactory could provide more than computing infrastructure. It could help attract technology companies, strengthen research and innovation capacity, support start-ups and create new opportunities for economic development. At the same time, infrastructure alone will not be sufficient, since its long-term impact will depend on the ability of countries to connect computing capacity with research, business applications, talent development and investment.
From political commitment to concrete projects
The declaration represents an important first step towards closer cooperation on AI among CEE countries. The region is unlikely to compete with the United States or China across all areas of artificial intelligence, however, its stronger opportunity may lie in specialisation, pooling resources and jointly developing capacities in areas where the region already has competitive strengths.
The next phase will therefore be crucial. The impact of the declaration will depend on whether the political commitment can be translated into joint projects, investment, infrastructure, talent development and stronger participation of European technology companies, moving from coordination to implementation.
Published on 7 October 2026, slord