GPAI Code of Practice sign-up deadline: As indicated in our last update, the EU Commission has released its final version of the GPAI code of practice. providers of general-purpose AI models to sign the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice. Signatories will be publicly listed on 1 August 2025, one day before the AI Act's obligations for GPAI providers take effect on 2 August 2025. By signing, providers signal their intent to adhere to the Code of Practice and will benefit from streamlined compliance with AI Act obligations. The Commission will focus enforcement on monitoring signatories' adherence to the code, offering greater predictability and reduced administrative burden.
Commission published GPAI Guidelines: The European Commission has issued guidelines to help providers of general-purpose AI models comply with the AI Act, effective from 2 August 2025. These guidelines aim to provide legal clarity and complement the GPAI Code of Practice. The guidelines define GPAI models as those trained with computational resources exceeding 10^23 floating point operations and capable of generating language, text-to-image or text-to-video content. The guidelines clarify the roles of providers, outline exemptions for open-source models, and detail obligations for high-risk models, including risk assessments and mitigation measures. Providers can adhere to the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice to demonstrate compliance and reduce administrative burdens.
EU Commission launches call for AI Act Advisory Forum applications: The European Commission is accepting applications for the Advisory Forum under the AI Act, inviting stakeholders from various sectors to contribute to the responsible implementation of AI regulation. This forum will advise the Commission on a broad range of AI Act issues, ensuring balanced representation and diversity. Permanent members will include key EU agencies such as Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA, along with standardisation bodies like European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Members will serve two-year terms and must actively participate without remuneration. Applications close on 14 September 2025 for experts from organisations with proven AI-related track records.
EU Commission launches €9 million tender for technical support on GPAI Safety: The AI Office has launched a call for tenders to procure technical support for the enforcement of the AI Act, focusing on assessing and monitoring systemic risks posed by General-Purpose AI (GPAI) models at EU level. This initiative aims to strengthen the AI Office capacity to evaluate and monitor compliance with the AI Act, especially in relation to GPAI systems that may present significant risks to public safety, security, and fundamental rights. This project will be funded under the Digital Europe Programme, with a total budget of €9 million
Data flows
EU Commission kicks off UK Data adequacy decision process: The Commission is now starting the formal process to renew the EU-UK adequacy decision, after the UK finalised its Data Use and Access Bill earlier in June. The adequacy decision will now need to be approved by the European Data Protection Board and EU Member States.
ICO consultation on international transfers: The ICO are currently consulting on their International Transfers Guidance, with a view to establishing how they can make their guidance as clear, practical, and accessible as possible. This guidance applies to large businesses in the public, private and third sectors, who are seeking to transfer personal data to receivers outside the UK. To feed into techUK's response to the consultation please contact Dani ([email protected]) by EOD Friday, 1 August.
Budget
EU Commission unveils plans for 2028-2034 budget: On 17 July, the EU Commission unveiled its vision for the European Union's future with the announcement of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The €2 trillion budget plan aims to steer the bloc through 2028 to 2034. President Ursula von der Leyen described the proposal as “the most ambitious ever” and a transformative push to match Europe’s aspirations and challenges. Among the important announcement was the allocation of close to €410 Billion in order to “back the strategic technologies of tomorrow”. The budget proposal still needs to be approved by EU Member States and Parliament.
Platforms
Protection of minors: The European Commission issued final guidelines on protecting minors on online platforms under the Digital Services Act on 14 July. The guidelines advise platforms accessible to minors on how to ensure a “high level of privacy, safety and security” for young users (per DSA Article 28). Though not legally binding, the Commission will use them as a key benchmark when assessing compliance. Notably, an EU prototype age verification app was also unveiled to support this effort.
Commission launches consultation on forthcoming Digital Fairness Act: The European Commission launched a public consultation and a call for evidence on the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act. The Digital Fairness Act will seek to strengthen protection and digital fairness for consumers, while ensuring a level playing field and simplifying rules for businesses in the EU. It will seek to address specific challenges as well as harmful practices that consumers face online, such as deceptive or manipulative interface design, misleading marketing by social media influencers, addictive design of digital products and unfair personalisation practices, especially where consumer vulnerabilities are exploited for commercial purposes. The Consultation will close on 14 September 2025.
Horizon Europe
New funding opportunities for UK businesses under Horizon Europe: New funding opportunities under the £80 billion Horizon Europe programme (which the UK successfully rejoined in 2024) have been pre-published. You can find more information here. The funding, which is open to businesses of all sizes will provide opportunities to expand networks through collaboration with international partners and support a wide range of research and innovation objectives. You can find out more about eligibility criteria on the Innovate UK website. UK Businesses are encouraged to make use of this opportunity. You can find a case-study of a successful application here.
For more information on any of the above, please contact:
Theophile Maiziere
Policy Manager - EU, techUK
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
techUK supports members with their international trade plans and aspirations. We help members to understand market opportunities, tackle market access barriers, and build partnerships in their target market. Visit the programme page here.
techUK Report - Enabling Growth and Resilience: the UK Tech Sector in an Uncertain World
New techUK report outlines key policy recommendations to boost the UK’s growth through the tech sector amid global challenges, emphasising resilience, trade leadership, and strategic investment.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
