However, simplification cannot come at the expense of the safeguards that protect Europeans’ privacy, data and fundamental rights.
The package, as signaled so far, raises important concerns. These include the possible weakening of central GDPR principles, reduced protection for sensitive data and the creation of broad new exemptions that could allow intrusive tracking or discriminatory profiling. Suggested adjustments to the AI Act should also be scrutinised carefully to ensure that we focus on simplifying its functioning without diminishing its policy objectives.
Thanks to considerable pressure from Liberals and Democrats sent in a letter to Commission President von der Leyen last week, we are delighted that the Commission's proposal no longer changes the definition of sensitive data, which risked opening the door to inferred sensitive data processing.
Renew Europe will support changes in the Digital Omnibus that will make life easier for our European companies. For instance, today one incident might trigger many reporting obligations. With the single platform to report on, we free up time and resource to handle the incident.
Bringing the different non-personal data laws together under the Data Act also gives young companies a simpler and more predictable framework to build new services. We back these changes because they remove real obstacles without touching the protections people rely on.
Christophe Grudler MEP, Renew Europe Coordinator on the Industry and Energy Committee, said:
“Bringing together our European rules on non-personal data into a single ‘Data Act’ is real progress. And the new one-stop shop for cyber incident notifications is another good step forward. But simplification must not lead to weakening. Data is a strategic asset: we will ensure it remains accessible for our SMEs, useful for public policy, and a driver of Europe’s digital sovereignty.”
Svenja Hahn MEP, Renew Europe Coordinator on the Internal Market Committee, reflected:
"The Digital Omnibus provides much needed simplification of existing digital legislation. It is important that this Omnibus clarifies the interplay of the AI Act with other existing legislation. At the same time, it must lay the groundwork to cut red tape and boost our digital economic growth, so that Europe can become the leading AI and innovation hub in the world. At the same time defending citizen’s rights remains at the core of our digital legislation."
Fabienne Keller MEP, Renew Europe Coordinator on the Civil Liberties Committee, said:
"We fully support the simplification agenda, we need to boost Europe’s competitiveness and innovation in Europe. But simplification must not be done at the expense of our privacy standards and must not weaken the protection of our fundamental rights. Some of the provisions are concerning, eroding key principles of GDPR: some will weaken the protection of our most sensitive data, and lead to more discriminatory processing for instance. We should keep protecting privacy under this digital omnibus."
Renew Europe will work to ensure that the final package eases unnecessary burdens while remaining firmly anchored in Europe’s core values. A confident and innovative digital Europe is fully achievable when rights and innovation advance together.
