Frankfurt, 27 April 2026 – Commenting on the trilogue on the ‘AI Omnibus’ between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council, Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director of the VDMA, says:

• “Artificial intelligence (AI) is the key driver for increased productivity, new business models and technological sovereignty in the European machinery industry. Unfortunately, in its current form, the European AI Act is causing uncertainty and delaying the urgently needed widespread adoption of industrial AI.”

• “The so-called AI Omnibus is the last chance to ensure that the AI Act promotes innovation and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and to avert burdensome double regulation for AI applications in machinery. Chancellor Merz’s call for regulatory relief for industrial AI therefore comes at exactly the right time. The initiative in the European Parliament to avoid double regulation is also a step in the right direction.”

• “It is possible to simplify matters, particularly in the field of industrial AI, without creating regulatory loopholes. After all, machine safety is already strictly regulated – including the use of AI.”

• “But ideas and announcements are not enough. The trilogue must lead to tangible simplifications of legislation. The VDMA calls on the EU institutions to act decisively now and remove the barriers. This would not only free up businesses, but also send the urgently needed signal that the EU and Member States are seriously advancing the reduction of red tape and are capable of delivering on their promises.”

The VDMA represents 3500 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation and SMEs. The companies employ around 3 million people in the EU-27, more than 1.2 million of them in Germany alone. This makes mechanical and plant engineering the largest employer among the capital goods industries, both in the EU-27 and in Germany. In the European Union, it represents a turnover volume of an estimated 900 billion euros. Around 80 percent of the machinery sold in the EU comes from a manufacturing plant in the domestic market.