Greece, Portugal, Romania and Latvia voiced their support for that position during a meeting on Monday, two EU diplomats told POLITICO.
The resistance from the group of 10 has emerged after Germany came out as a vocal supporter of plans to shift AI requirements for a host of industries — ranging from medical devices to toys — from the AI law to sectoral laws, in support of major industrial giants such as Siemens and Bosch.
The plan to give sectoral law priority, put forward by European Parliament lawmakers, is now the main point of contention in the EU’s effort to scale back its AI rulebook — an effort launched in November to help the EU compete in the global AI race.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at Hannover Messe on April 20, 2026. | Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty Images
Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries meet Wednesday to try to find a compromise on the position, before teams from the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Commission meet to strike a final deal next Tuesday.
Germany’s leaders came out swinging during an industry fair in Hannover this weekend. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday he backed the push to go easy on industrial AI, and his digital minister, Karsten Wildberger, said Monday the original plans didn’t “go far enough.”
Advocates of the push say products are already covered by sector-specific legislation would face a double burden if they also have to meet the AI requirements.