The Party of European Socialists expresses deep concern over the direction indicated by the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus package, warning that several of the proposed changes risk undermining Europe’s human-centric digital model and the protections that citizens rely on.
Europe’s digital ecosystem – from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy rules to the AI Act, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act and eIDAS – represents one of the EU’s greatest democratic achievements. Together, these instruments safeguard privacy, ensure fair competition, reinforce consumer trust, and protect Europe’s strategic autonomy in a global environment where Big Tech and geopolitical actors are increasingly challenging European standards.
For the PES, simplification must never become deregulation. Europe’s digital framework protects rights, democracy and sovereignty. The PES will firmly oppose any weakening of the GDPR, the AI Act or citizens’ digital protections, including attempts to narrow the definition of personal data, weaken safeguards for sensitive information, restrict users’ rights or pause key elements of the AI Act.
At a moment when powerful private interests and political actors outside Europe are openly questioning the EU’s rules, deregulation would not only harm citizens’ rights; it would also weaken Europe’s global credibility and strategic sovereignty.
Giacomo Filibeck, PES Secretary General, said:
“We are all in favour of simplifying rules to make life easier for citizens and operators in this challenging digital market. However, simplification must never turn into deregulation. Europe’s digital framework protects rights, democracy and sovereignty. We will not support any agenda that recklessly undermines the GDPR, the AI Act or citizens’ digital protections. At a time when Big Tech and geopolitical actors are pushing to lower our standards, Europe must stand firm, not step back.”
The PES calls on the European Commission to ensure that the Digital Omnibus reinforces – rather than weakens – the integrity of the EU’s digital legal order. Europe must continue leading globally by ensuring that digital innovation serves people, rights and democracy.
