The European Parliament has formally approved the amendments to the EU AI Act proposed under the Digital Omnibus package.
Readers of Cornerstone Insights may recall that, in May 2026, we analysed the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on a series of targeted amendments to the AI Act. At the time, the agreement represented an important step towards simplifying certain aspects of the Regulation while preserving its core risk-based approach.
The Parliament’s vote now transforms that political agreement into a formally endorsed legislative text and brings the amendments one step closer to becoming law.
While the amendments themselves remain largely unchanged, the vote is nevertheless significant. It provides greater certainty regarding the future direction of the AI Act and confirms the EU’s intention to refine implementation rather than fundamentally reconsider the Regulation’s underlying framework.
A Brief Reminder: What Does the Omnibus Package Do?
As discussed in our previous article, the amendments focus primarily on reducing legal uncertainty and facilitating implementation.
Among other things, the package:
- postpones the application of certain obligations applicable to high-risk AI systems;
- delays watermarking requirements for AI-generated content;
- introduces a prohibition on AI systems designed to generate non-consensual intimate imagery and AI-generated child sexual abuse material;
- reduces overlap between the AI Act and sector-specific product safety legislation;
- clarifies aspects of the high-risk classification framework;
- extends certain simplification measures to small mid-cap enterprises; and
- strengthens the role of the EU AI Office in supervising certain general-purpose AI systems.
Importantly, the package does not alter the AI Act’s core architecture. The risk-based approach remains intact, prohibited AI practices remain prohibited and high-risk AI systems remain subject to extensive compliance obligations.
Why Is the Parliament’s Approval Important?
Although the substance of the amendments has been known since the provisional agreement was announced, formal approval by the Parliament remains an important milestone in the legislative process.
First, it confirms broad political support for the package and significantly reduces the likelihood of material changes to the agreed text.
Second, it provides greater certainty for businesses that have been assessing compliance strategies against a backdrop of evolving implementation timelines.
Finally, the approval sends a clear signal regarding the EU’s regulatory approach to AI. Policymakers remain committed to the objectives of the AI Act, but are prepared to introduce targeted adjustments where practical implementation challenges arise.
This reflects a broader trend that is likely to continue as regulators gain experience applying the new framework in practice.
What Happens Next?
The amendments must now be formally approved by the Council of the European Union.
Given that the Council already participated in negotiating and endorsing the provisional political agreement, formal approval is widely expected. Once adopted, the legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force in accordance with its final provisions.
Unless unexpected developments emerge during the final stages of the legislative process, organisations should assume that the revised implementation timetable and related amendments will become law.
What Should Organisations Be Doing Now?
The Parliament’s approval should not be interpreted as a signal to postpone AI compliance initiatives.
While certain obligations will apply later than originally anticipated, the overall direction of travel remains unchanged. Organisations developing, deploying or procuring AI systems should continue to assess how the AI Act applies to their activities, identify potentially high-risk use cases and establish appropriate governance frameworks.
For many organisations, the additional implementation time provides an opportunity to prepare more effectively rather than a justification for delaying compliance efforts.
Indeed, one of the clearest messages emerging from the Omnibus package is that the EU remains committed to AI regulation, even while refining aspects of implementation.
Conclusion
The European Parliament’s approval marks another important step in the implementation of the EU AI Act.
The Digital Omnibus package does not fundamentally reshape the Regulation. Rather, it seeks to make compliance more practical by adjusting timelines, reducing regulatory overlap and addressing specific implementation challenges.
Attention will now turn to the Council’s formal approval, which is expected to complete the legislative process.
In the meantime, organisations should continue preparing for compliance with the AI Act while taking advantage of the additional time and greater clarity provided by the amendments.
For a detailed analysis of the amendments themselves, including the revised deadlines, new prohibitions and simplification measures, see our previous article on the provisional political agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council.
