EU AI Simplification Effort Falls Short of Commission’s Ambition

BRUSSELS - The Business Software Alliance (BSA) expressed disappointment with the political agreement reached on the AI Omnibus, warning that it falls short of the European Commission's ambition to deliver meaningful simplification of EU digital rules.

"The Commission took an important step by presenting a short, targeted proposal to simplify the AI Act," said Hadrien Valembois, Director, Policy - EMEA at the Business Software Alliance. "But today's agreement dilutes or reverses many of those measures. In fact, the only two true simplification measure are the grace period for high-risk AI systems provisions to apply and the exemption for sectors covered by the machinery Regulation".

BSA has consistently called for a more ambitious approach, including in its recent statements and submissions, emphasizing the need to maintain the AI Act's risk-based framework and ensure simplification delivers in practice. This position has also been echoed across the industry, with a broad coalition urging policymakers to keep simplification at the core of the final agreement.

"If the European Union wants to be serious about simplification, it needs to do more and better," Valembois added. "The upcoming Digital Fitness Check should be used to deliver the level of clarity and proportionality needed for Europe's digital rules to work effectively in practice."