AIG Newsletter 13 April 2026

NEWS

In this week's edition: The EDPB publishes its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a busy year of GDPR guidance work spanning the DSA, DMA and AI Act interplays. The European Parliament adopts its position on the AI Act Omnibus simplification proposal, introducing delayed application dates and a new ban on AI nudifier applications, while the Commission issues a call for tenders for analytical support on AI Act guidelines. On audiovisual policy, ECIPE argues that AV services remain a neglected area of EU trade competitiveness, and DIGITALEUROPE calls for technology-neutral horizontal regulation in its response to the AVMSD evaluation. Finally, the European Commission signs a €5 million grant agreement to bolster independent fact-checking capacity across the EU.   

EDPB PUBLISHES 2025 ANNUAL REPORT

On 9 April the EDPB published its 2025 Annual Report. The EDPB highlighted its work on providing clearer, more accessible GDPR guidance amid rapid AI development and EU digital regulatory expansion. Key outputs included Guidelines on the DSA-GDPR and DMA-GDPR interplays, progress on the GDPR-AI Act interface, and five adequacy opinions. The Helsinki Statement set a new direction towards greater transparency and stakeholder engagement. Enforcement remained active, with 414 cross-border cases registered and 572 One-Stop-Shop procedures reaching Final Decisions. The EDPB also engaged on the Digital Omnibus and SME record-keeping simplification.

AV SERVICES: A NEGLECTED AREA OF EU COMPETITIVENESS (ECIPE)

The European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) has published a blog arguing that audiovisual services represents an underexploited area of EU competitiveness. Unlike telecoms or computer services, AV services remain largely excluded from trade liberalisation – at both multilateral and bilateral levels – owing to cultural protection policies and the AVMSD framework. The piece argues this limits market access for EU firms and weakens the EU's negotiating position in trade talks. 

DIGITALEUROPE: KEEPING THE AVMSD FIT FOR PURPOSE

DIGITALEUROPE has published its response to the European Commission's evaluation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, arguing that the regulatory landscape has shifted significantly since the 2018 revision. With consumption now spanning linear, on-demand and online services, and the EU having since adopted the DSA, DMA and European Media Freedom Act, DIGITALEUROPE argues the case for addressing cross-cutting challenges through technology-neutral horizontal regulation rather than expanding sector-specific AVMSD rules.

EP ADOPTS POSITION ON AI ACT OMNIBUS SIMPLIFICATION

The European Parliament has voted 569 to 45 to adopt its position on the AI Act Omnibus simplification proposal. Key elements include delayed application dates for high-risk AI systems (December 2027 for biometrics, law enforcement and similar; August 2028 for systems governed by sectoral legislation), a compliance deadline of November 2026 for AI-generated content watermarking, and a new ban on AI "nudifier" applications. MEPs also backed reduced obligations where sectoral product safety laws already apply, and extended SME support measures to small mid-cap enterprises.

EC PUBLISHES CALL FOR TENDERS: AI ACT GUIDELINES SUPPORT

The European Commission has issued a call for tenders seeking analytical support for AI Act implementation. The contracted work will provide research and input into three sets of guidelines: responsibilities along the AI value chain; the concept of substantial modification of AI systems; and the interplay between the AI Act and other relevant EU legislation. The contract is valued at up to €139,000 and runs for ten months.

EC BOOSTS INDEPENDENT FACT CHECKING

On 31 March, the European Commission signed a €5 million grant agreement to support independent fact-checkers across the EU and beyond. The initiative will strengthen fact-checking capacity in all EU languages and foster cooperation among relevant players. It will also establish a protection scheme for fact-checkers covering assistance in matters such as legal affairs, cybersecurity, psychological support as well as developing an independent European repository of fact-checks.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

13 April: Meeting of the College of Commissioners

14 April: Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society

16 April: Event: From Vision to Action: Empowering Skills Development, Capacity Building and Inclusive Learning for Europe’s Digital Future. Link here.

17 April: Committee on Cultural Affairs

26 April: Deadline - Public Consultation: The Digital Fairness Act A survey about apps, websites, games and social media. Link here.

1 May: Deadline to respond to the AVMSD Consultation. Link here.

1 June: AIG Exchange Partners Meeting.

8 June: Eighth Meeting of the European Artificial Intelligence Board