The EU digital regulation omnibus central to the EU’s competitive framework

When Michael McGrath, EU Justice Commissioner gave his keynote address at PL&B’s Ireland conference on 14 May in Dublin(1), he placed his presentation on the EU Digital Omnibus in a pro-economic growth competitive framework.

He declared “Europe's competitiveness will depend not just on the rules we set – but on how clearly they are understood, how consistently they are applied, and how confidently they are trusted.”(2)

Screen shot of Michael McGrath EU Justice Commissioner’s page 
listing his speech at the PL&B Conference in Dublin on 14 May 2026.

The conjunction of Ireland’s Commissioner speaking in his home country gave him the opportunity to emphasise the importance of Ireland at the centre of Europe’s digital economy: “First, as a European base for 16 of the top 20 global tech companies, including the world's largest AI developers and providers. Second, at the intersection of enforcement of EU regulatory frameworks that will shape how AI is adopted across our Union.”

He stressed the importance of national Data Protection Authorities when stating “In a Union built on mutual trust, common rules, and consistent enforcement, national authorities are not just national actors – they are guardians of the European project itself.”

He declared that competitiveness is not an abstract concept. “Its overarching objectives and practical implications are tangible. In essence to help businesses invest, innovate, and scale by reducing burden and cost. This is why part and parcel of the Commission's competitiveness drive is simplification” of both existing regulation and introducing new instruments.

Simplification not dilution nor deregulation

His goal is providing legal certainty fostering both clarity and confidence. He reported that the European Commission’s wide-ranging consultation showed that stakeholders were clear. “.. the GDPR serves as an effective and balanced legal framework which has met its objectives of providing the highest standard of protection for citizens and their personal data.

However, in a clear change of direction in the current Ursula von der Leyen headed European Commission from the previous 5-year Commission, there was now room for improvement for the GDPR. McGrath was adamant that “legislation cannot remain static; it must evolve with the times. This is why, by harmonising and simplifying a limited number of provisions, we aim to provide clarity, and by making the framework easier to navigate and so easier to apply in practice, we aim to underpin confidence.”

He provided examples of how the proposals would deliver: simplification through burden reduction – by replacing 27 national lists on when to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments with one single list at EU level; and simplification through proportionality – by requiring breach notifications to supervisory authorities only in high-risk situations.

Examples of how the proposals would deliver clarity through harmonisation included:

1. “Through the definition and conditions for processing personal data for scientific research purposes;
2. Clarity through guidance – such as an Implementing Act on how to achieve effective pseudonymisation (developed with the close involvement of the European Data Protection Board); and
3. Clarity through definition – such as the definition of personal data building upon the case-law of the European Court of Justice.”

He and his team at DG Justice are now actively supporting these changes by engaging with the co-legislators, the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and other EU bodies to push forward these reforms.

During his one-hour session McGrath and our audience ignored hostile comments against the EU from the US Administration. Instead, he accentuated the positives for the 450 million consumers in the EU and by implication in the countries where there is a “Brussels effect” across much of the world. He took the high ground on rights “… we are working towards a framework with reduced burden and cost, but one which continues to provide clarity and confidence through maintaining the high standard of rights protection that we expect within the EU.”

Digital Fairness Act

It was when McGrath moved on to his plans for the Digital Fairness Act (DFA), that he demonstrated that the EU’s policies apply to all services provided to EU residents, from wherever they are based. He clearly stated “the DFA will therefore provide clarity by reinforcing the "safety net" of consumer law applying to all companies, irrespective of their business model or technology base.”

He gave as examples simplifying information requirements for repetitive in-app purchases, and adapting the 14-day Right of Withdrawal for digital content subscriptions.

He cited the memorable statement by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that “parents should be the ones raising their children – not platforms!”

He placed his work on the DFA as a win for everyone “Looking at the ‘new horizon’ presented by the DFA, we are working towards a digital economy where our businesses are protected against unfair competition, consumers are protected against unfair practices, and our children are protected from unacceptable harms.”

PL&B's Student Essay Competition 2026

I am delighted to congratulate the winner of PL&B's Student Essay Competition 2026, Sanjana Shikhar, LLM Student at the London School of Economics and Political Science. We have published her winning essay in the June 2026 edition of PL&B International Report where you will also see the names of the two runners-up. The three winning essays are also published on our website. Sanjana will attend the conference as part of her prize.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the PL&B Student Essay Competition 2027, please contact us.

PL&B 39th International Conference 6-8 July 2026

We are now just 5 weeks away from Digital Regulation: The fundamental things apply. The EU GDPR blue bus in London on the programme’s front cover has attracted enthusiasm with people I have met in the UK and in Brussels in recent weeks. They immediately see the symbolism of the UK government’s policy (shared by most political parties) of closer alignment with the EU.

We have 70 speakers from 14 countries and there are a few in-person places remaining.

The PL&B Team looks forward to welcoming you to Cambridge for what people tell us is “The world’s favourite privacy law conference.”

Stewart Dresner 
Publisher, Privacy Laws & Business

June 2026