Czech Deputy Prime Minister Calls AI Cooperation With Poland a ‘Milestone’

Karel Havlíček described closer cooperation between Poland and the Czech Republic on artificial intelligence as a “true milestone,” linking the partnership to Central and Eastern Europe’s bid to play a larger role in the European AI economy.

The Czech deputy prime minister and minister of industry and trade spoke after the CEE AI Summit 2026 in Prague, where Central and Eastern European countries signed the Prague Declaration on cooperation in artificial intelligence. The Czech Republic also signed a memorandum with Poland and other partners.

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From my perspective, this is a true milestone.

Havlíček said Poland was one of the Czech Republic’s most important partners in trade and investment. He argued that the region could improve its chances of persuading the European Commission to locate one of the EU’s planned AI gigafactories in Central and Eastern Europe.

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It would be absolutely unacceptable for either the Czech Republic or Poland to find themselves outside the ‘European AI family’.

“It would be absolutely unacceptable for either the Czech Republic or Poland to find themselves outside the ‘European AI family’,” Havlíček said. He added that the countries should present joint initiatives and could potentially build shared infrastructure and divide its capacity.

He also said the Czech Republic was investing in AI safety, cybersecurity and digital security because new technologies brought risks. Referring to a recent disinformation operation that used historical disputes over Zaolzie to create tensions between the two nations, Havlíček praised the rapid response from both governments. “We clearly showed that the Czech Republic and Poland are partners, not only neighbours, but two of the closest countries to each other,” he said.

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We clearly showed that the Czech Republic and Poland are partners, not only neighbours, but two of the closest countries to each other.