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Digital Omnibus Negotiations (GDPR) – May 2026 Update

Following the meeting of the Antici Group (Simplification) on 24 April 2026, discussions within the Council on the GDPR related elements of the Digital Omnibus, under inter institutional file 2025/0360, appear to be entering a more decisive phase. While no formal public agenda has yet been released identifying the precise timing of the next exchange on the GDPR amendments, attention within Brussels is increasingly turning towards the final weeks of the current Presidency’s handling of the file.

At present, there is no publicly available confirmation of the next dedicated discussion on the GDPR amendments within the Antici Group (Simplification). It appears that the next substantive meeting will likely take place during the last week of May. The next meeting of the Antici Group (Simplification) is increasingly being viewed as an important staging point for the Presidency’s efforts to consolidate Member State positions before the end of its term on 30 June 2026.

The anticipated discussions are expected to focus on a further revised compromise text being developed by the Presidency following the written comments and exchanges held since February. In particular, the Presidency now appears to be moving away from broader conceptual amendments and towards a narrower package of changes capable of attracting sufficient consensus among delegations.

Among the issues expected to feature prominently are the treatment of the proposed clarifications concerning personal data and entity specific identifiability, the future role of implementing acts versus EDPB guidance mechanisms, and procedural simplification measures relating to documentation obligations, DPIAs, and personal data breach notifications. While these remain framed as technical amendments, they increasingly touch upon wider institutional questions concerning legal certainty, supervisory discretion, and the overall balance of the GDPR framework.

There are also indications that the Presidency may now be prioritising deliverability over ambition. Several Member States continue to support targeted burden reduction measures, particularly for smaller organisations and lower risk processing operations. At the same time, resistance appears to remain around any drafting changes capable of being interpreted as reopening more fundamental debates on accountability, lawful processing, or the definition of personal data itself.

Against this backdrop, the next Antici Group (Simplification) meeting may prove particularly significant. Beyond the substance of individual amendments, it is increasingly expected to test whether the Presidency believes sufficient convergence now exists to begin moving towards a more stable final compromise text.

Indeed, there are growing indications within Brussels that the Cyprus Presidency may be seeking to finalise a consolidated compromise position before the end of its term on 30 June 2026. If accurate, this would significantly increase the political importance of the remaining May and June discussions. The coming weeks may therefore determine not only the scope of the final simplification package, but also whether the Council can maintain momentum behind targeted GDPR reform without triggering wider political resistance from more cautious delegations.

For stakeholders monitoring the file, the current phase is therefore likely to be one of the most important since the proposal was first introduced. Much of the real negotiation now appears to be taking place through quieter drafting and bilateral calibration behind the scenes, with the next Antici Group (Simplification) discussions expected to provide the clearest indication yet of where the Council’s eventual landing zone may emerge.

18 May, 2026