A notice of meeting published by the Council of the European Union schedules a meeting of the Antici Group (Simplification) for 16 July 2026 at 09:30 in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. The group will exchange views on two Presidency notes for Omnibus simplification packages affecting digital and automotive legislation, advancing the EU's regulatory simplification agenda.
The digital omnibus (Omnibus VII) proposes amendments to key data protection and digital regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive, the NIS 2 Directive, and the Data Governance Act. It also repeals several acts, such as the Regulation on a framework for the free flow of non-personal data and the Platform-to-Business Regulation. The automotive omnibus (Omnibus IX) targets technical requirements and testing procedures for motor vehicles, amending regulations on type-approval, general safety, and driving times. It also repeals older directives on permissible sound levels and noise emissions, and exempts certain electric N2 vehicles from speed-limitation device requirements.
The meeting is an exchange of views only; no decisions are taken. The Antici Group prepares the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper), meaning the discussions will shape subsequent formal negotiations among member states.
For digital businesses, the simplification could reduce compliance costs by streamlining overlapping rules, but may also create uncertainty during the transition. Automotive manufacturers face changes in testing and type-approval procedures, potentially lowering costs for new models, while electric vehicle producers benefit from the speed-limiter exemption. Consumer and privacy advocates may worry about diluted protections if GDPR amendments weaken enforcement. National regulators will need to adapt to the revised legal framework, with administrative burdens potentially shifting.
After the Antici Group exchange, the Presidency will likely refine the proposals for discussion in Coreper and subsequent Council formations. The European Parliament will also need to consider the packages under the ordinary legislative procedure.