The German minister’s trip comes as the European Commission is drafting proposals to roll back some of its digital legislation, a core part of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s deregulation drive. The package — called the digital omnibus — is intended to help businesses navigate EU tech regulation more easily and is expected to be presented Nov. 19.
A month out from the proposals, the German government is still finalizing its position on how to cut back some of the EU’s thorniest tech rules, including whether to pause the implementation of its landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, Wildberger said.
Among the issues the Commission has suggested will be covered in the omnibus are how the EU regulates data, cybersecurity reporting and the bloc’s flagship artificial intelligence laws, which have been under fire from both governments and industry. The consultation to provide input closed on Tuesday.
Touting the visit as an opportunity to discuss the omnibus, Wildberger met with the Commission’s Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen, who is in charge of the push to simplify tech rules. He also met Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, who oversees the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
A former business executive in charge of brands including MediaMarkt, Wildberger took office in May as minister in charge of digitalization and government modernization.
Europe has “some homework to do” to “take some of the burdens, the regulation away,” Wildberger said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t address the risks, but we have to become much more practical and efficient,” he said.