Ireland is calling for a more coherent and practical approach to EU digital regulation, with digital simplification at the centre of proposals designed to support innovation, competitiveness and business growth. The recommendations, published by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, place particular emphasis on reducing compliance burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ireland’s position follows targeted engagement with businesses, industry representatives, National Regulatory Authorities and government officials. The proposals aim to make Europe a stronger location for trustworthy digital innovation while ensuring regulation remains proportionate, effective and future-ready.
Digital Simplification as an EU Competitiveness Priority
Ireland says digital rules should be easier to understand and apply across the EU Single Market. Its proposals seek to reduce overlapping obligations, improve coordination between Member States and provide businesses with clearer guidance when complying with several major digital laws.
The approach is particularly relevant to companies dealing with requirements under the Artificial Intelligence Act, GDPR, NIS2, the Cyber Resilience Act, DORA and the Data Act. Ireland argues that better alignment between these frameworks would reduce duplication without weakening protections for consumers, businesses or national security.
A risk-based and evidence-led approach
The proposed principles for future legislation include:
- Using risk assessments to identify where rules can be simplified.
- Aligning horizontal and sector-specific legislation.
- Supporting new measures with regulatory impact assessments.
- Anticipating upcoming EU laws through future-focused policy design.
- Making stakeholder consultation a standard part of the legislative process.
Creating a More Coherent Digital Rulebook
Ireland recommends wider use of the country-of-origin principle in digital regulation, alongside stronger cooperation among regulators. More consistent interpretation would help businesses operating across borders and reduce fragmentation between national systems.
The proposals also call for EU-wide glossaries and clearer cross-references between regulations. These tools could help organisations understand overlapping definitions, reporting duties and technical requirements without having to navigate disconnected legal texts.
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Practical Compliance Tools for SMEs
Administrative reporting is another central issue. Ireland supports aligning incident-reporting thresholds across cybersecurity legislation and introducing simpler compliance processes for smaller companies.
Suggested tools include automated risk assessments, standardised SME templates, the EU Business Wallet and digital product passports. A central online portal could also give stakeholders a single point of access to information, guidance and regulatory services.
Ireland further supports expanding regulatory sandboxes. These controlled environments can help businesses test products, develop compliance expertise and adapt to new digital obligations before rules are fully applied in complex commercial settings.
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What Ireland’s Proposals Could Mean
If adopted, the recommendations could make EU digital compliance more predictable, especially for SMEs seeking to scale across Member States. The proposals do not call for removing essential safeguards; instead, they focus on clearer coordination, proportionate requirements and practical implementation.
Public bodies, regulators and industry groups will remain important to the process. Effective digital simplification will require cooperation across policy areas including enterprise, cybersecurity, data protection and consumer rights.
Conclusion
Ireland’s digital simplification agenda presents a case for regulation that is coordinated, evidence-based and easier to use. By reducing duplication and providing practical compliance tools, the proposals aim to protect trust while helping European businesses innovate. The key takeaway is clear: digital simplification should make regulation more effective, not less rigorous.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
