Letters

Following the latest discussions in Council on the Digital Omnibus, BEUC would like to express its concern regarding the latest compromise proposals put forward by the Irish Presidency. BEUC considers that the current proposals under discussion would represent a significant rollback of EU protections for personal data and fundamental rights, which stand to have a clear negative impact on consumers.

For once, EU legislators have an opportunity to deliver genuine simplification for people: a solution to the ongoing issue of misleading cookie banners. As part of its highly controversial Digital Omnibus package, the EU Commission has proposed legally binding automated privacy signals. These would allow you to set your privacy preferences once, and very rarely see another banner. Unfortunately, the tracking industry is pushing back. Therefore, a coalition of currently 19 civil society organisations, businesses and academics has joined forces. We urge the Commission, the Council and Parliament to support automated signals for privacy choices and a strong Article 88b in the Digital Omnibus.

On 15 July 2026, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and organisations representing standardisation, consumers, digital rights, doctors, pharmacists and hospitals are calling EU policymakers to maintain medical devices in the scope of the AI Act.