Blueprint for startups: EU policy matters to follow and ways to engage
EU and local policymakers are eager to hear from European founders - and AI makes monitoring policy and engaging with them faster and more affordable.
Omnibus
The AI Omnibus: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202601744 The Digital Omnibus: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0837
Posts
Irish Presidency: what’s on the radar for digital, consumers, and innovators?
On July 1, Ireland takes the helm of the Council of the EU with 68 "priorities" spanning competitiveness, values, and security.
Why European businesses are not using AI tools
Eurostat's 2025 data show that a lack of technical expertise, data privacy concerns, and legal uncertainty remain the main barriers to the use of AI tools among European businesses, even as most companies recognize AI’s potential value.
The EU’s plan to tackle “cookie fatigue”
The EU wants to reduce “cookie fatigue” through browser-level consent rules that promise fewer banners and more transparency. Critics warn the proposal could create new gatekeepers, weaken personalised advertising, and increase costs for European businesses.
Imperfect AI Omnibus arrives - all eyes turn to Digital Omnibus
The EU’s AI Omnibus is finally here, but some criticize it for a lack of ambition. While the EU must still formally approve the AI Omnibus, focus now shifts to the second leg of the EU’s digital simplification efforts: the Digital Omnibus package, which is crucial for AI development and data.
Can Europe keep its industrial champions in the AI era?
Siemens warned that EU regulations are driving industrial giants toward the US and China. As the "Trump Effect" lures factories away with tax cuts and deregulation, Europe faces a high-stakes choice regarding data rules and the chip dilemma of speed vs. sovereignty.
€500 billion-worth European data economy troubles continue
As AI grabs the spotlight, Europe’s data economy still powers billions in value, yet fragmented GDPR enforcement continues to hold innovators back. The Digital Omnibus was meant to help, but the EU now risks retreating from even modest reform.
Italo-German competitiveness to-do list for Europe
Merz and Meloni’s updated Italo-German Plan of Action doubles down on legislative self-restraint, simplification, and better regulation. The real test now is the Omnibus push and a Better Regulation reform.
2026: a year for preparation and a sharper focus
2026 is the EU’s digital “set-up” year: a time to simplify rules, set priorities, and brace for transatlantic spillovers as major legislative initiatives race toward 2027.
Europe has both a competitiveness and a fantasy-thinking problem
As EU governments discuss the Digital Omnibus, Europe is divided: some see the Omnibus as a necessary step to help European companies, while others cling to rules like the GDPR and the AI Act.
EU consultation on digital rules: time to think outside the box
The EU’s Digital Omnibus consultation is open until Oct 14, 2025, aiming to simplify data, AI, and cybersecurity compliance. But without tackling the GDPR reform, the elephant in the room remains.
Denmark to drive GDPR simplification: scaleups must not be forgotten
EU Justice Ministers met in Copenhagen to discuss targeted GDPR simplification. While the Commission rules out a full review, momentum is growing to ease burdens, especially for SMEs and scale-ups, which are key to Europe's competitiveness.
Innovation and consumer-centric insights into the EU’s digital policies and initiatives