On June 29, 2026, the Council of the European Union granted final approval to a revised AI regulation under the ‘Omnibus VII’ legislative package, aimed at simplifying the EU’s digital rulebook and providing legal clarity for AI deployment across the single market. The updated regulation introduces several key changes:
- Extended compliance deadlines for high‑risk AI systems: Stand‑alone high‑risk AI systems now have until December 2, 2027 to comply, while high‑risk systems embedded in products (such as medical devices or machinery) have until August 2, 2028. (consilium.europa.eu)
- Ban on non‑consensual intimate content and CSAM: AI systems that generate nude images of real individuals without consent, or remove clothing to reveal intimate parts, will be prohibited starting December 2026. (consilium.europa.eu)
- Regulatory sandbox and transparency timeline adjustments: The deadline for national authorities to establish AI regulatory sandboxes is postponed to August 2, 2027. Additionally, providers now have only three months (instead of six) to implement transparency solutions for AI‑generated content, with a new deadline of December 2, 2026. (consilium.europa.eu)
These amendments reflect a pragmatic shift in EU AI policy—balancing innovation with safety. By delaying enforcement timelines, the EU aims to give businesses more time to prepare, while the ban on harmful content underscores a commitment to fundamental rights. The streamlined framework is expected to foster harmonized implementation across member states and support a more competitive digital economy. (consilium.europa.eu)