Portrait of Mario Draghi
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Mario Draghi on GDPR

Calls for GDPR simplification (strong)

TL;DR

Mario Draghi advocates for targeted reform and radical simplification of the GDPR to boost EU competitiveness and innovation.

Key Points

  • He called for a “radical simplification” of the primary law of the GDPR in a September 2025 speech.

  • His September 2024 report on competitiveness cited unclear overlaps between the GDPR and the AI Act as an example of regulatory burden.

  • His recommendations suggest a move toward a less precautionary driven approach to data protection to support European growth.

Summary

Mario Draghi’s core position on the General Data Protection Regulation is a call for its simplification to foster European competitiveness and innovation, a stance detailed in his September 2024 report requested by the European Commission President. He argues that excessive regulatory burden, including potential overlaps between the GDPR and newer legislation like the AI Act, hinders the ease of doing business and causes EU companies to fall behind international rivals. In a high-level speech in September 2025, he specifically denounced "heavy gold-plating" by Member States and demanded a “radical simplification” of the primary GDPR law.

While his position is seen as endorsing a more pro-innovation regulatory environment, critics note he has emphasized economic efficiency over the GDPR's core function of protecting fundamental rights, failing to anchor his critique in European scholarship that highlights the regulation’s rights-based foundation. The Commission has subsequently pursued changes, such as the Omnibus IV simplification package which offered modest relief from record-keeping duties for smaller entities, echoing Draghi's push for less burden, although experts caution against radical changes that risk undermining legal certainty.

Key Quotes

the EU's regulatory stance towards tech companies hampers innovation

Frequently Asked Questions

Mario Draghi strongly advocates for targeted reform and a radical simplification of the GDPR. He believes this is necessary to alleviate excessive regulatory burdens that he argues are hindering European innovation and competitiveness against global rivals.

The former Central Bank President suggested simplifying the primary law and moving towards a less precautionary approach. His analysis pointed to issues like inconsistent Member State implementation and fragmentation across the EU's digital rulebook.

Yes, his emphasis on simplification has drawn criticism for prioritizing economic efficiency over the GDPR's core purpose of upholding fundamental rights. Some commentators note he failed to mention the regulation's link to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.