BRUSSELS — European Union energy and digital ministers gathered in Brussels on Thursday to address the mounting strain that artificial intelligence data centers are placing on the bloc's electricity grids and climate commitments. The European Commission convened the meeting to coordinate a common approach.

The talks followed months of rapid data center expansion across Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany, where operators including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have announced large new facilities. Grid operators in several member states have warned that surging demand risks outpacing available renewable capacity.

A European Commission spokesperson said the discussions would focus on energy efficiency standards, grid connection rules, and transparency requirements for water and power consumption by large computing facilities. The Commission has faced pressure to reconcile its AI ambitions with the European Green Deal.

Ireland's grid operator EirGrid has reported that data centers account for more than a fifth of the country's electricity use, prompting restrictions on new connections around Dublin. Ministers from smaller member states urged Brussels to prevent an uneven distribution of both investment and energy burdens.

The summit outcome is expected to shape a forthcoming Commission proposal on sustainable computing infrastructure, with draft measures anticipated later this year.