The implementation of the EU AI Act is entering a new phase, and with it comes the launch of one of its key governance bodies, the Advisory Forum. We are pleased to share that ECNL’s Karolina Iwanska has been selected to join the Forum. As it begins its work, it is important to reflect on why this body matters and what the open questions are about its future directions.
Why is the Advisory Forum important?
Established under Article 67 of the AI Act, the Advisory Forum is the only formal body that has a mandated role for civil society to provide guidance to the AI Office and the AI Board on how the Act is implemented and applied. It provides a space for civil society and researchers to bring in key expertise and the perspectives of communities most affected by AI risks to balance the policy debates. As such, the Advisory Forum is meant to guide the EU and keep governments and corporations accountable, ensuring that human rights and public interest remain at the heart of AI governance.were
How were members selected?
The selection process of the members concluded 9 months after the call for expressions of interest closed. This was a significant delay, and meant that structured stakeholder input and dialogue were missing from key processes happening in the first half of 2026, including the guidelines on prohibitions or high-risk AI systems or the AI Omnibus. In April 2026, ECNL brought together over 35 civil society organisations and researchers, calling on the AI office to prioritise setting up the Forum. It was created in June 2026, but key procedural aspects – such as rules of procedure or the selection of co-chairs – are yet to be resolved.
Who are the members?
The Forum brings together several interest groups from a range of backgrounds. Out of the 174 members selected, 36 represent organisations registered as non-profit. The AI Act requires balanced stakeholder representation - of civil society, academia, start-ups and industry - ensuring that no category of interest overpowers the advice. In the current case, however, only a fifth of the seats go to groups focused on advancing rights and public interest in AI governance.
How to ensure that the Advisory Forum is fair and inclusive?
Many practical questions remain about how the Advisory Forum will actually operate. A lot will depend on how the rules of procedures, voting mechanisms and working group composition are formed. Will it be a space to ensure human rights-based AI in Europe, or will it be another lobbying avenue for AI businesses? Will it provide a genuine space for consultation, or will the European Commission treat it as ‘box-ticking’ participation? ECNL has been coordinating the efforts of human rights CSOs and public interest researchers to ensure that the Forum ensures meaningful and equitable participation. Among others, we provided the Commission with recommendations for the Forum’s rules of procedure on behalf of this group. We will continue to advocate for rules that ensure civil society has a strong voice in the Forum and that the AI Act is implemented fairly across Europe.