The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the “Digital Omnibus,” a new initiative under its broader Digital Package on Simplification, aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for businesses while preserving the EU’s digital policy objectives.

The call for evidence, launched this week, will remain open until October 14, 2025, and invites citizens, companies, and organizations across Europe to share their views. It follows three earlier consultations — on the Data Union Strategy, the Cybersecurity Act review, and the Apply AI Strategy — which together generated more than 700 responses.

The Digital Omnibus will review a wide set of existing digital regulations, with a focus on streamlining rules in five key areas: the data acquis (including the Data Governance Act, Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation, and Open Data Directive); cookie consent rules under the e-Privacy Directive; cybersecurity incident reporting obligations; the application of the AI Act; and elements of the European Digital Identity framework.

According to the Commission, the overall aim is to “reduce businesses’ administrative compliance costs without compromising the objectives of the underlying rules.” An accompanying document states that Brussels will also “explore the potential need for simplification measures in the realm of data regulation, to enhance data availability and sharing.”

The consultation comes as pressure builds for a wider overhaul of EU data law. Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi last week publicly called for a comprehensive reform of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), describing it as an obstacle to data-driven innovation. Critics argue that the GDPR’s expansive definition of personal data, combined with member states’ uneven implementation, has created unnecessary barriers for European startups and scaleups.

Some governments have also been accused of “gold-plating” GDPR rules and resisting greater openness in data sharing, citing concerns about data transfers to non-EU countries, particularly the United States. Businesses say such restrictions limit Europe’s competitiveness in areas like artificial intelligence and digital services.

While the Commission’s Digital Omnibus consultation does not directly tackle GDPR reform, Draghi’s intervention has renewed calls for the EU to confront what many see as the “elephant in the room.” Analysts say that without addressing GDPR’s structural issues, the Omnibus exercise risks falling short of its ambition to meaningfully simplify Europe’s digital rulebook.

Defenders of the current framework argue that GDPR reform requires a separate legislative track and broader political consensus, pointing to ongoing interservice consultations and the Danish EU presidency’s current work on data governance.

Nevertheless, the Commission insists the Omnibus and the forthcoming “Digital Fitness Check” — a comprehensive review designed to stress-test the coherence of the EU’s digital acquis — reflect its commitment to simplification and better governance.

As Europe continues to navigate the balance between privacy, innovation, and competitiveness, the outcome of this consultation will be closely watched by businesses and policymakers alike.