The European Union has taken another important step in shaping its regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, commonly referred to as the Digital Omnibus on AI, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 July 2026 and entered into force on 27 July 2026.
The Regulation amends the AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), the EASA Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, and the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. Rather than introducing a brand new legal regime, the Digital Omnibus refines existing legislation by reducing administrative burdens, clarifying responsibilities, and improving consistency across sector-specific rules.
The result is a more proportionate and innovation-friendly framework that supports Europe's high standards for safety, fundamental rights, and trustworthy AI.
Key Changes Introduced by the Digital Omnibus on AI
Reducing Regulatory Duplication and High-Risk Rules
One of the Regulation's principal goals is eliminating overlapping requirements between the AI Act and existing EU product safety laws. Where sector-specific legislation already provides equivalent or higher protection, the Commission may adjust certain AI Act requirements through delegated acts. Additionally, the text refines the definition of safety components: systems used solely for user convenience, performance optimisation, or general assistance are explicitly excluded from high-risk classifications.
Supporting SMEs, Startups, and Small Mid Caps
To lower barriers to innovation, the Digital Omnibus strengthens compliance support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and introduces a new legal category for small mid-cap companies (SMCs). Key measures include:
- Simplified technical documentation and streamlined quality management requirements.
- Capped administrative fines for eligible small mid caps.
- Extended access to national and EU-level regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing environments.
Strengthening Safeguards and Governance
- Bias Detection Data Processing: Establishes a voluntary legal basis for providers and deployers to process special categories of personal data when strictly necessary to detect and correct algorithmic bias, subject to robust safeguards.
- New Prohibitions: From 2 December 2026, strict bans apply to generative AI systems designed or used to create non-consensual sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse content.
- Enhanced AI Office Supervision: Grants the European AI Office expanded oversight powers for general-purpose AI models and AI embedded in very large online platforms.
Aligning Sector Specific Rules
The amendments directly harmonise AI rules across key industrial domains:
- Civil Aviation: Amendments to the EASA Regulation ensure AI performing safety-critical functions in aviation follows a consistent evaluation path aligned with high-risk AI rules.
- Machinery and Cyber Resilience: Integrates relevant AI health and safety requirements progressively, using AI Act standards to offer a presumption of conformity under the Machinery Regulation until specific sectoral standards arrive.
What Does This Mean for the Mobility Sector?
For ERTICO Partners working across connected, cooperative, and automated mobility (CCAM), intelligent transport systems (ITS), and data-driven mobility, these updates provide crucial legal clarity.
- Supporting Connected and Automated Mobility: The narrowed safety component definition gives developers clearer guidance on automated driving systems (ADS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Functionalities intended for route optimisation or driver comfort are clearly distinguished from safety-critical controls.
- Enabling Trusted AI and Mobility Data: Mobility providers can now process sensitive data under strict safeguards specifically to audit and remove bias from transport algorithms, improving safety and fairness in traffic management and mobility services.
- A Coherent Regulatory Landscape: Alignment across aviation safety (drones and urban air mobility), machinery, and the Cyber Resilience Act establishes unified compliance processes for multimodal transport technologies.
Looking Ahead
While the Digital Omnibus entered into force on 27 July 2026, key provisions take effect progressively:
- 2 August 2026: AI Act transparency obligations (e.g. labelling AI interaction and deepfakes) remain fully applicable.
- 2 December 2026: Targeted prohibitions on harmful generative AI content apply.
- Throughout 2027: The Commission and AI Office will publish simplified documentation templates, guidance, and launch the EU-level regulatory sandbox.
- 2 December 2027: High-risk AI requirements apply for standalone Annex III systems (e.g. traffic management infrastructure).
- 2 August 2028: High-risk obligations take effect for embedded Annex I product safety AI (e.g. vehicle safety components).
What This Means for ERTICO Partners
The Digital Omnibus marks a decisive move toward a more predictable, innovation-friendly environment for intelligent transport. By streamlining administrative compliance, clarifying sectoral overlap, and expanding access to testing sandboxes, the updated rules help accelerate the deployment of trusted mobility solutions.
Through its public-private partnership, ERTICO will continue to monitor policy developments, facilitate dialogue across the transport ecosystem, and support Partners in implementing Europe's AI framework to build safer, smarter, and more sustainable mobility.
Sources
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2026). Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026 amending Regulations (EU) 2024/1689, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2023/1230 as regards the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Digital Omnibus on AI). Official Journal of the European Union, L 1744, 24 July 2026.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202601744
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2024). Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689, 12 July 2024. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2018). Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Official Journal of the European Union, L 212, 22 August 2018. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1139/oj
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2023). Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2023 on machinery and repealing Directive 2006/42/EC and Council Directive 73/361/EEC. Official Journal of the European Union, L 165, 29 June 2023. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1230/oj