Event

Omnibus Dialogues #2: How can we simplify without weakening fundamental rights?

Day two of the Renaissance Numérique Omnibus Dialogues.

On Tuesday, 21 April, the second day of Renaissance Numérique’s "Omnibus Dialogues" at the Fondation Universitaire. The Omnibus Dialogues are high-level conferences dedicated to examining the societal, economic and technological implications of changes to the European regulatory framework for the digital sector. This two-part series aims to analyse the key issues raised by the European Commission’s "Digital Omnibus" proposal.

Gathered in Brussels for the second day of “Omnibus Dialogues”, discussions highlighted a defining tension in today’s EU digital agenda: the balance between simplification and deregulation.

As key frameworks, such as the GDPR, DSA, DMA, AI Act and Data Act/DGA) are being (or soon will be) reassessed, several key points emerged, such as the risk that “simplification” could translate into a gradual erosion of safeguards for citizens, the concrete challenges faced by businesses, especially SMEs, in navigating a dense and fragmented regulatory landscape, and the need for greater clarity, better governance and support mechanisms, rather than weaker rules.

The first session explored the “simplification vs. deregulation” paradigm, examining risks to fundamental rights and the conditions under which simplification can remain compatible with the principle of non-regression.

The second session shifted the focus to governance: should simplification come through stronger EU-level centralization, reinforced national capacities, or hybrid models? And how can we ensure more coherent oversight (across authorities, courts, and enforcement mechanisms) without losing effectiveness?

In the background lies a broader question: does the Digital Omnibus signal a technical adjustment, or a deeper shift in the European digital model?

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