Brussels, 13/03/2024 (Agence Europe) – At their plenary session on Wednesday 13 March, MEPs approved the institutional agreement on European legislation on artificial intelligence (‘AI Act’) by 523 votes to 46, with 49 abstentions. During the debate at the end of the previous afternoon, many of them had praised the quality of the text and the victories achieved by the Parliament’s negotiators during the last trilogue, which lasted 37 hours (see EUROPE 13311/17). “This is a world first: we finally have the first binding legislation on artificial intelligence to reduce risks, create opportunities, combat discrimination and provide transparency. Thanks to Parliament, unacceptable AI practices will be banned in Europe”, said the text’s rapporteur for the Committee on Internal Market (IMCO), Brando Benifei (S&D, Italian), after the vote. (IS)