41 Organizations Call on EU Lawmakers to Reject AI Omnibus, Protect Integrity of EU AI Act

Summary

A coalition of 41 organizations and experts has issued an open letter urging the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council to reject the proposed AI Omnibus amendment, arguing that it fundamentally weakens the safeguards established by the EU AI Act. The letter, coordinated by EDRi and other fundamental rights advocates, contends that the Omnibus proposal far exceeds its stated mandate of 'technical changes' and fails to follow proper democratic procedures and the Commission's own Better Regulation commitments. Critics warn that the proposed modifications would compromise core protections against high-risk AI systems, including biometric identification and AI deployment in educational settings, leaving EU citizens inadequately protected. The signatories are calling for the rejection of the AI Omnibus on both procedural and substantive grounds to preserve the democratic integrity of the legislative process and maintain robust fundamental rights protections.

• Stakeholders are urging outright rejection rather than modification of the Omnibus proposal as trilogue negotiations approach

Editorial Opinion

The AI Omnibus controversy highlights a critical tension between regulatory pragmatism and substantive protection. While technical adjustments to novel legislation are sometimes necessary, the scale of the proposed changes suggests a concerning pattern of regulatory erosion driven by industry interests rather than genuine administrative necessity. The procedural failures outlined by these experts—circumventing proper democratic review and the Commission's own governance standards—are as troubling as the substantive weakening of protections, signaling that the integrity of the EU's regulatory approach to AI hangs in the balance.