EU approves AI Act simplification package

The Council of the European Union gave final approval to the Digital Omnibus on AI on 29 June 2026, completing a process launched by the Commission on 19 November 2025. The regulation amends the AI Act, civil aviation rules and machinery regulation, and is awaiting publication in the Official Journal after being signed on 8 July 2026.

The package postpones high-risk AI obligations that were originally due on 2 August 2026. Systems covered by Article 6(2) and Annex III will now face obligations from 2 December 2027, while AI embedded in products covered by EU safety laws under Article 6(1) and Annex I moves to 2 August 2028. Providers also gain transitional rules for legacy systems and guidance on standards, post-market monitoring and sectoral compliance.

The AI Office gains exclusive supervision of some AI systems built on general-purpose AI models and systems integrated into very large online platforms or search engines under the DSA, with coordination intended to avoid double punishment. The Digital Omnibus also bans AI systems used to generate realistic intimate imagery without consent or child sexual abuse material, while allowing strictly necessary processing of sensitive data for bias correction under safeguards.