On 24 June 2026, the Council of the European Union is scheduled to approve the European Parliament's first-reading position on the Digital Omnibus on AI, a legislative package that simplifies harmonised artificial intelligence rules by amending three existing EU regulations. The adoption would finalise the legislative process for the proposal, which the European Commission submitted on 19 November 2025 under Article 114 TFEU.
The package amends Regulations (EU) 2024/1689 (the AI Act), (EU) 2018/1139 (the Basic Regulation on aviation safety), and (EU) 2023/1230 (the Machinery Regulation) to streamline compliance and reduce administrative burdens for AI systems. The European Parliament adopted its first-reading position on 16 June 2026, reflecting a compromise agreement reached between the co-legislators. The European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions each delivered opinions during the legislative process.
The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) is asked to confirm the agreement and recommend that the Council approve Parliament's position, contained in document PE-CONS 30/26, as an 'A' item on the agenda. Statements for the Council meeting minutes are included in an addendum. If approved, the act will be signed by the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, entering into force on the twentieth day after publication.
The Digital Omnibus on AI represents a targeted simplification effort, reducing duplicative requirements for AI systems that fall under multiple regulatory frameworks. For businesses developing AI-enabled products, the amendments aim to lower compliance costs and accelerate time-to-market by aligning obligations across the AI Act, aviation safety rules, and machinery safety standards. National market surveillance authorities will benefit from clearer coordination rules, while consumer and worker safety protections are maintained through harmonised essential requirements.
Trade-offs include a moderate reduction in sector-specific oversight for high-risk AI systems in aviation and machinery, as the omnibus approach prioritises horizontal consistency over tailored rules. Civil society organisations have raised concerns that simplification could dilute safeguards for critical applications, though the compromise text retains mandatory conformity assessments for the highest-risk categories. The package is expected to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises disproportionately, as they face the steepest compliance costs under the current fragmented regime.
Institutional follow-up will involve the European Commission's oversight of implementation, including delegated acts to update technical standards. The AI Office, established under the AI Act, will coordinate with sectoral agencies to ensure consistent enforcement across the three amended regulations.