Digital Omnibus: More Time, Not Less Obligation

News & Updates

17 June 2026

AI-generated

“The EU has watered down the AI Act. So we can just wait and see for now.”

Postponed isn’t cancelled. Anyone who waits now mistakes a deferral for a free pass.

In the Digital Omnibus package, the EU decided in May 2026 to postpone central deadlines of the EU AI Act and to ease individual obligations. That quickly becomes: it’s all half as bad. In fact the timeline shifts, but the direction stays. And some things even get tighter.

What gets postponed

The big chunk first. The comprehensive obligations for high-risk AI under Annex III now apply from 2 December 2027 instead of, as before, from August 2026. For high-risk AI embedded as a safety component in regulated products (Annex I), the date moves to 2 August 2028.

There’s more breathing room elsewhere too. The national AI regulatory sandboxes only need to be in place by 2 August 2027. And the AI literacy obligation under Article 4 has been softened: instead of ensuring a certain level, companies have had to take measures to promote their staff’s AI literacy since 27 July 2026.

What gets tighter, not looser

Here comes the part the wait-and-see camp overlooks. Not everything is being relaxed.

The grace period for watermarking AI-generated content (Article 50) is shorter than planned: for systems placed on the market before 2 August 2026, it only runs until 2 December 2026, four months instead of the planned six. Anyone who hoped for a long transition period gets less time, not more.

What isn’t postponed at all

Two things have applied since 2 February 2025: the bans on certain AI practices and the AI literacy obligation. The latter has been softened since 27 July 2026, but not abolished: companies still have to actively promote it. The bans are even being extended: from 2 December 2026, AI systems that generate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material are also prohibited.

And the transparency obligations under Article 50 have applied unchanged since 2 August 2026. Anyone who uses AI for communication and content is therefore not due in 2027, but already.

The penalties also remain untouched. Prohibited practices can incur up to 35 million euros or 7 percent of global annual turnover, other violations up to 15 million or 3 percent. The Omnibus lowers the effort, not the risk.

State of play

Important for context: the reform is in force. As of 28 September 2026.

The political agreement of 7 May was followed on 16 June by the European Parliament’s approval. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 was adopted on 8 July, published in the Official Journal on 24 July, and has applied since 27 July. Six days before the old August deadline.

For practice that means: the new deadlines are in black and white. You get planning certainty, not a break.

Why the postponement is no reason to sit back

The stated goal of the Digital Omnibus is to reduce administrative burden, by at least 25 percent by 2029, and for small companies even by 35 percent. Good news for mid-sized businesses.

But less effort is not an exemption from the obligation. The extra time is a preparation window, not a cushion to rest on. Anyone who wants a clean AI register, clear risk classes and documented measures by December 2027 doesn’t start in November 2027. The difference between “we have time” and “we use the time” decides whether the deadline ends up stress-free or hectic.

The first step stays the same anyway, no matter which date applies: knowing which AI is even in use. That’s exactly what the NADOVO Platform makes visible. What the structured entry looks like is shown in our 4-week plan. And anyone who needs support with implementation will find it in our consulting offerings.

One question to close. When the new deadlines apply: does that start a break for you, or a preparation window? Where you stand today is something we are happy to clarify in an initial call.

About the author

Jochen Stier is a co-founder of NADOVO with over 20 years of experience in process management and IT service management. He helps German SMEs implement the requirements of the EU AI Act systematically and pragmatically. The NADOVO Framework with its five phases combines regulatory requirements with practical feasibility, without corporate budgets or complex tools.