Digital Omnibus: a step towards practical and proportionate AI regulation in Europe

In November 2025, the European Commission published the Digital Omnibus package of legislation, including a proposal to simplify the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act (Digital Omnibus on AI). The initiative aims to ensure a more practical, proportionate and seamless implementation of the AI regulation across the European Union, while maintaining a high level of protection for safety, fundamental rights and trust.

The Digital Omnibus envisages targeted measures to reduce administrative burdens, including a more flexible timeline for the implementation of high-risk AI requirements, simplified compliance documentation, and more proportionate requirements for small and medium-sized enterprises and small mid-caps. At the same time, the AI literacy approach is being strengthened, focusing on practical implementation and real-world use contexts.

A key component of the Digital Omnibus is the strengthening of the role of regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing. Sandboxes are positioned as a practical tool for safely testing AI solutions, engaging early with regulators, and clarifying compliance requirements before wider deployment. They can help businesses and public sector organisations mitigate regulatory risks while fostering responsible innovation. The European Commission also envisages the establishment of an EU-level regulatory sandbox in the coming years to support cross-border testing of AI solutions.

The Association of Artificial Intelligence in Latvia (MILA), in evaluating the initial national position of the Republic of Latvia prepared by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, emphasized in its proposals the importance of regulatory sandboxes as a central tool for the practical implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act. MILA called for promoting the use of sandboxes as a compliance support mechanism, ensuring that the results obtained in sandboxes can be used as part of the compliance evidence, and strengthening early and structured dialogue between businesses, the public sector, and supervisory authorities.

MILA will continue to follow the progress of the Digital Omnibus at the EU level, inform members about the development and opportunities of regulatory sandboxes in Latvia and the European Union, and invite the industry to engage in dialogue on the testing and implementation of AI solutions in a timely manner.

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