The European Union’s so-called Omnibus Packages are becoming a central tool for legislative change, bundling amendments to multiple legal acts into a single proposal. For insurers, these initiatives carry far-reaching implications, ranging from reporting obligations and supervisory rules to digital requirements. According to the German Insurance Association (GDV), several Omnibus Packages have already been launched in 2025, with more to follow, marking a year of significant regulatory shifts.

Streamlining EU lawmaking

The Omnibus procedure begins with a European Commission proposal, based on analysis, consultations, and impact assessments. Drafts then move through the European Parliament and Council under the ordinary legislative procedure. Once adopted, directives still require national transposition, while regulations apply directly across Member States. By bundling amendments, the EU avoids the need for separate lengthy procedures, accelerating the pace of change.

Focus on simplification

Among the first measures this year was the Omnibus Simplification Package, unveiled in February, which targets sustainability reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Insurers, GDV notes, face particularly heavy burdens here. Companies are currently required to report up to 1,200 individual sustainability data points—a challenge especially for smaller firms with limited staff. The new package aims to streamline requirements, focusing on more relevant information while cutting unnecessary bureaucracy.

“For the project to succeed, it is crucial to create real added value in reporting,” GDV stated, emphasizing the need to reduce the number of mandatory data points. Excessive data demands, the association argues, not only weigh on insurers when drafting reports but also make it harder for readers to interpret them.

The digital challenge ahead

Later this year, the Digital Omnibus Package is expected to consolidate and harmonize EU rules on digital supervision and IT security. With insurers increasingly adopting cloud computing and artificial intelligence, digitalisation offers efficiency gains and closer customer interaction. But growing connectivity also increases the risk of cyber vulnerabilities.

According to GDV, the Digital Omnibus should be seen as an opportunity to make regulation more practical. A key priority will be avoiding overlaps with the existing Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which already sets strict standards for IT risk management and cybersecurity. “A balance between data protection and the use of new technologies is crucial. This is the only way to ensure both security and innovation,” the association underlined.

Outlook

With eight Omnibus Packages announced for 2025 as part of the EU’s competitiveness agenda, insurers must prepare for a wave of legislative changes. For GDV, the message is clear: regulatory reform should reduce complexity and strengthen resilience, while allowing the industry to embrace innovation.