Open letter to the Council

Open letter to the Council

To:

Cypriot Council Presidency

All Permanent Representations

Brussels, 22nd of May 2026

Open letter to the Council

A call for simplification in support of effective privacy protection and competitive European businesses

The Letta and Draghi reports highlighted the need to simplify EU legislation, explicitly referring to the GDPR, legal complexity and to the fragmentation resulting from its divergent application across Member States.[1] In this context, the European Commission proposed the Digital Omnibus as an attempt to boost competitiveness and innovation in Europe, while preserving high levels of privacy protection. Its stated objective ("to optimise the application of the EU digital rulebook") is strongly supported.[2]

We recognise the significant efforts with which the Council and Member States are engaging on the Digital Omnibus. At the same time, the current pace raises concerns. The text involve(s) complex legal and technical considerations and warrant careful reflection and a holistic long-term approach.

A rushed procedure limits Member States ability to carefully assess these implications, thus missing the opportunity to address long-standing shortcomings and, unintentionally, giving rise to new burdens, legal uncertainties and problems. It could fall short of the simplification objective outlined in the 2025 Council Conclusions.[3]

Effective simplification, business viability and high levels of privacy protection are not opposing objectives. On the contrary, clear, simple, EU harmonised, technology-neutral and risk-based rules are a precondition for responsible and ethical compliance.

Given the economic and operational impact of these choices across a wide range of sectors, as well as the legal and technical complexity of the file, we urge the Council and Member States to:

• Ensure sufficient time to carefully and fully assess the implications of each proposed measure and amendment introduced through the Digital Omnibus; and

• Maintain a clear focus on effective simplification, while safeguarding sustainable business models and a high level of privacy protection.

We remain ready to engage with the Council and support future endeavour. Yours sincerely,

The undersigned federations

EPC, ENMA/ENPA, EBU, ACT, NME, WFA, EACA, EGTA, EDAA, AMC, ESOMAR

https://www.magazinemedia.eu/storage/321/Coalition---open-letter-to-the-Council---digital-omnibus-(22.05.2026_final).pdf

[1] M. Draghi (2024), The future of European competitiveness. Available at: The Draghi report on EU competitiveness and E. Letta (2024), Much more than a market. Available at: Enrico Letta - Much more than a market (April 2024).

[2] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2016/679, (EU) 2018/1724, (EU) 2018/1725, (EU) 2023/2854 and Directives 2002/58/EC, (EU) 2022/2555 and (EU) 2022/2557 as regards the simplification of the digital legislative framework, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2018/1807, (EU) 2019/1150, (EU) 2022/868, and Directive (EU) 2019/1024 (Digital Omnibus), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025PC0837#footnote4.

[3] European Council Conclusions of March 2025, available at: 20250320-european-council-conclusions-en.pdf.

• EMMA

  The European Magazine Media Association, is the unique and complete representation of Europe's magazine media, which is today enjoyed by millions of consumers on various platforms, encompassing both paper and digital formats.

  https://www.magazinemedia.eu

• ENPA

  The European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA) is the largest representative body of newspaper publishers across Europe. ENPA advocates for 14 national associations across 14 European countries, and is a principal interlocutor to the EU institutions and a key driver of media policy debates in the European Union.

  https://www.enpa.eu