As the European Commission prepares its next wave of legislative simplification, one thing is clear: the EU’s digital ambition can only succeed if its regulatory framework evolves from complexity to clarity.

The European Union has positioned itself as a global leader in digital innovation, aiming to leverage emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and data-driven services—to drive economic prosperity and societal resilience. However, the EU’s approach has largely relied on regulation, leading to a complex and fragmented digital legislative landscape. The unintended result is a significant administrative and compliance burden, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which impedes innovation and the growth of the Digital Single Market.

In this new policy brief, the Business Software Alliance offers a forward-looking blueprint to help EU policymakers streamline digital regulation.

In particular:

• How inconsistent terminology and redundant obligations are undermining the Digital Single Market;
• Why a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work for B2B cloud, AI, or cybersecurity providers;
• Practical, actionable ideas for aligning and simplifying Europe’s digital laws;
• Recommendations to foster co-regulation, industry dialogue, and global interoperability.

Our message to the commission: Now is the moment to prioritize implementation, not more regulation. Let’s build a simpler, faster, more innovation-friendly Europe—one that leads the world in trustworthy digital transformation.

Read the full proposal to see how the EU can reclaim its competitive edge in the global digital race.