President Pirc Musar at the Arraiolos Group meeting: “We should bear in mind that behind every algorithm and every automated decision there is a human being.”

President of the Republic of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, President of the Hellenic Republic Constantine An.  Tassoulas, President of the of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, President of the Republic of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini and President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar met in Tallinn at the invitation of the host, President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis.

This year’s meeting of the Arraiolos Group was divided into two sets of thematic debates. The first one was dedicated to artificial intelligence and its impact on our way of life, the way of thinking and mutual relations. The second set of debates was focused on issues of global security and future perspectives, including in light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the  Middle East.

During the first set of debates, President Pirc Musar pointed out that "artificial intelligence is no longer a mere tool, but has become part of modern society's fundamental infrastructure that alters the way of work, thinking and creating. She called for a human-friendly development of artificial intelligence based on dignity, human rights and respect for privacy. She said that "When dealing with the risks of using artificial intelligence, one should bear in mind that behind every algorithm and every automated decision there is a human being who wrote the code. This simple fact underscores fundamental principles regarding human duties and responsibilities that must remain at the heart of the efforts of individual countries and the international community." President Musar also specifically highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence in education, where it can "support and complement human teaching, without replacing it. According to her, education, digital literacy, and critical thinking are the strongest protective mechanisms in shaping a responsible society of the future. She particularly emphasised that artificial intelligence should be properly regulated. In this respect she highlighted the role of Slovenia, which, through the  International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) operating under the auspices of UNESCO, connects the knowledge of smaller countries with international frameworks and strives to develop artificial intelligence based on human rights, democracy and justice.

In the context of current geopolitical challenges, President Musar highlighted multilateralism as the foundation for effective international cooperation and the key to maintaining peace, democracy, and the rule of law. She also called for consistent respect for international law and human rights and dignity, without double standards. The President confirmed Slovenia's support for reforms of the United Nations and the Security Council, which must become more inclusive, transparent and accountable, and called for limiting the use of the veto in cases of the most serious crimes.

An important part of the discussion between European leaders was dedicated to the war in Ukraine. The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to continued support for Ukraine – not only military but also humanitarian. She stressed that the war in Ukraine must end and that Russia is not only threatening Ukrainians, but is also trying to instill fear among Europeans and testing unity and determination in all areas. "It is very important that we remain determined and united. We must continue to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia and its supporters," she said. She supported US President Trump's peace efforts, but at the same time emphasised that the only solution tacceptable for Slovenia was the one that respects international law, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Although informal, the meetings of the Arraiolos Group serve as a platform for exchanging views, experience and visions. They provide an opportunity to discuss the future of the European Union and global challenges. They also provide an opportunity for strengthening bilateral relations.