The overall digital strategic priority of the European Commission is to shape Europe's Digital Future and make it fit for the Digital Decade. The Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) outlines the Commission's vision for high-quality, inclusive and accessible digital education in Europe. 

The Commission’s White Paper on Artificial Intelligence, which presented policy options to enable the trustworthy and secure development of AI in Europe, further highlighted the crucial importance of filling the digital competence and skills gap. This has also been a high priority of the updated European Skills Agenda. 

The Commission has also proposed a comprehensive legal framework for AI (AI Act) laying down mandatory requirements for ‘high-risk’ AI systems in several areas, including education and vocational training. This will build on existing EU regulatory and policy developments including the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI presented in 2019 by the High-Level Expert Group on AI (AI HLEG), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Act proposal.

As AI systems increasingly affect all aspects of human activity, it is essential that educators understand how to use AI tools in an ethical way. The Digital Education Action Plan, under Priority 1 ‘Fostering the development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem’ and Action 6, includes the development of Ethical Guidelines on the use of AI and Data in Teaching and Learning for Educators. This action aims to help educators and citizens to understand the potential benefits and possible risks of the use of AI and data in education.