The Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation announced that the Belgrade Ministerial Declaration on Artificial Intelligence has been officially adopted with the agreement of 44 member states of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and the European Union.
The adoption of the declaration signifies the progress of the GPAI members in implementing an integrated partnership, recognizing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as a catalyst for economic and social development, while reducing risks and ensuring they benefit both people and the planet. Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, described the adoption of the Belgrade Declaration as a significant diplomatic success for Serbia.
“Following the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit, 44 countries have now adopted the Declaration proposed by our country, which is a major achievement. The importance of this declaration lies in its emphasis on mechanisms that will legally and ethically regulate artificial intelligence in the future. It is a success because so many countries worldwide are involved in this process, giving the agreement weight and value,” said Begović.
She added that one of the key focuses of the Declaration is to reduce the technological gap between countries. It is essential to recognize that not all countries are at the same level of technological development.
“One of our main goals is to reduce the gap between less technologically developed and more advanced countries, so that we can all move towards the technological future at the same pace. To achieve this, the Declaration ensures the active involvement of science in all processes,” said Begović.
The Belgrade Declaration outlines key priorities for the future of artificial intelligence, including reaffirming the values and principles of protecting individual freedoms, democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights as the foundation for the development and application of AI. It also emphasizes enhancing global cooperation through support for integrated partnerships with the OECD to create a sustainable and reliable AI ecosystem, recognizing the digital divide between developed and developing countries with a focus on reducing this gap and promoting equal opportunities for all. Additionally, the Declaration promotes the safe and sustainable development of AI, addressing global challenges such as employment, data management, privacy protection, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental impacts.
The Declaration also stresses the importance of public sharing of information and results from the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence so that all nations can benefit from advancements in this field.
Furthermore, the Declaration announced the upcoming “AI Action Summit” in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, and the next GPAI Summit, which will be held in Bratislava.
The Belgrade Summit of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, held on December 3-4, gathered all the ministers from the member states, marking the official start of Serbia and Slovakia’s co-presidency of this international organization.
Over 1,500 people attended the summit, with 148 delegates from more than 45 countries and international organizations, along with over 500 experts from around the world. During the summit, the Belgrade Declaration was announced and received full support from the participating member countries.
Ministers from the participating states and international organizations called on governments, organizations, the academic community, the business sector, and civil society to support these goals and work together on the development of human-centered artificial intelligence, grounded in essential ethical principles.
