Both major EU institutions now have compatible positions on extending EU AI Act compliance deadlines. That convergence matters. It doesn’t mean the deadlines have changed. It means the legislative path to changing them is significantly clearer.
According to the IAPP, MEPs reached a preliminary political agreement on AI Act amendments, reportedly on March 11, 2026. The European Council had previously adopted its own position on the same extensions. Both institutions are now reportedly aligned.
The proposed new deadlines, according to reports, would move the Annex III high-risk AI system requirement from August 2, 2026 to December 2, 2027, and push the Annex I deadline to August 2, 2028. As TechLaw.ie’s practitioners confirmed, August 2, 2026 is the original deadline date when the bulk of EU AI Act requirements, including Annex III high-risk AI obligations, are currently set to take effect. None of the proposed extensions are legally binding until the full legislative process concludes.
A committee vote involving the LIBE and IMCO committees is reportedly scheduled for March 18, 2026. That vote would need to be followed by a plenary vote and formal adoption before any extension becomes law.
For compliance teams currently planning against August 2026: this agreement is a significant procedural signal, not an authorization to pause work. The August 2026 deadline remains in force until formal adoption of any amendment occurs.