Thessaloniki is set to host a high-level European meeting on the role of technology in policymaking, as heads of parliamentary technology assessment bodies from across Europe gather in the city on 27 and 28 April 2026.
The roundtable of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment (EPTA) network will take place at the Centre for Dissemination of Research Results (KEDEA) of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The event is being organised under Greece's 2026 presidency of the network, led by the Hellenic Parliament's Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology.
EPTA brings together parliamentary bodies that support national legislatures with scientific evidence and analysis on how science and technology affect public policy and democratic processes. The Thessaloniki meeting is expected to focus on how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, can be integrated into parliamentary work.
Opening the proceedings, Stratos Simopoulos, an MP for Thessaloniki and chair of the parliamentary committee, is expected to highlight the importance of linking legislative work with innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
The central theme of this year's meeting is the use of artificial intelligence as a tool in parliamentary technology assessment. Discussions will examine how AI applications can support research, policy analysis, report drafting, comparative policy evaluation, and advisory services for parliaments.
At the same time, participants are expected to address challenges related to AI deployment, including transparency, reliability, ethics, and the need for human oversight in decision-making processes.
According to organisers, the Hellenic Parliament has been actively contributing to the European dialogue on integrating AI into legislative work. Through its scientific service and relevant parliamentary committee, it has focused on strengthening research support, documentation, multilingual content processing and the institutionally secure use of new technologies.
The programme also includes exchanges of experience among member states and discussions on the network's future priorities. Delegates are scheduled to visit key research institutions in Thessaloniki, including the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) and the American Farm School, highlighting the city's broader research and innovation ecosystem.
