Pehr Granfalk (SE/EPP), Member of the Municipal Council of Solna Municipality and ECON Political Coordinator for the EPP-CoR Group, has been appointed rapporteur for the upcoming opinion on the Data Union Strategy and the Digital Omnibus on the Digital Acquis and AI.
Reacting to his appointment, Granfalk stated: “Europe cannot afford to only regulate technology – we must enable it. The Digital Omnibus strengthens competitiveness by providing clearer rules, lighter burdens for SMEs and better tools to implement the AI Act. As Rapporteur, I want to put forward a balanced approach that empowers regions and municipalities to deploy innovation responsibly and deliver better services to citizens.”
The opinion will address three key initiatives presented by the European Commission:
• The Data Union Strategy (COM(2025) 835), which shifts focus from drafting new rules to delivering on existing ones, tackling data scarcity, regulatory complexity, and global competition. The strategy enhances the role of local and regional authorities (LRAs), in scaling up data access and simplifying B2G interactions.
• The Digital Omnibus on the Data Acquis (COM(2025) 837), which introduces targeted technical amendments to the EU’s vast digital rulebook to reduce compliance burdens for businesses, citizens, and public administrations—while keeping core objectives intact. Many of these changes concern public-sector data sharing and obligations relevant to all levels of government.
• The Digital Omnibus on AI (COM(2025) 836), focused on technical adjustments to the AI Act during its staged entry into application through 2027. With cities and regions deploying high-risk AI systems, the proposal is particularly relevant for LRAs, which continue to face challenges preparing for compliance
Indicative Timeline
• 27 January 2026 – Exchange of views (ECON)
• 23 April 2026 – Adoption in ECON
• 1–2 July 2026 – Adoption in CoR plenary
