In the complex European regulatory landscape, where sustainability, transparency and efficiency are competing for the limelight, the Omnibus package package emerges as a key piece of the puzzle.

Its name may sound technical, even bureaucratic, but behind it lies a profound transformation of the corporate reporting system in the European Union. And the key question is: are we facing a new regulatory labyrinth or a historic opportunity to simplify and boost competitiveness for companies?

The so-called "Omnibus package" is a European Commission initiative that seeks to harmonize, simplify and digitize reporting requirements for companies within the single market.

It covers various regulatory reforms aimed at reducing the administrative burden, improving data interoperability and facilitating compliance with obligations, especially under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and other transparency frameworks.

The challenge: narrow scope and delayed entry into force

One of the major changes proposed by the Omnibus is the drastic reduction in the number of companies that must report under the CSRD regulations. Initially affecting more than 50,000 companies, it now applies to approximately 7,000 companies, which represents a reduction of more than 80% in the scope of the regulation. The main change is that it now only applies to companies with more than 1,000 employees and 50 million euros in turnover.

This leaves a huge gap, since more than 95% of the business fabric is made up of companies with less than 1,000 employees. This will create a new scenario of complexity for large companies that will find it more difficult to obtain sustainability data from their suppliers (mostly SMEs) that will not be obliged to report under the CSRD.

Another key element has been the approval of the Stop-the-Clock Directive (2025/794/EU) on April 14 by the European Council as part of the Omnibus package, which aims to delay by two years the application of the reporting requirements set out by the CSRD. As a result, large companies that were due to report in 2026 (for the 2025 financial year) will have to report in 2028 (for the 2027 financial year).

Faced with these challenges, the European Commission (EC) recommends that SMEs report under the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for Unlisted SMEs (VSME) developed by EFRAG (pending publication of the EC Delegated Act). This report enables SMEs to provide sustainability information required by their business partners - large companies, banks and investors. This and other key aspects will be analyzed in greater depth in our next whitepaper: "Omnibus, what are the new rules of the game for sustainability reporting?"

Timeliness: efficiency, comparability and strategic value

However, the Omnibus package also opens up new opportunities. For example, it opens the door to a new era of intelligent and competitive reporting. Companies that are able to adapt quickly can benefit from several levers:

• Reduction of the administrative burden by eliminating duplication in the delivery of reports to different entities.
• Improved comparability and access to benchmarking, as data are available in common and reusable formats.
• Greater transparency with investors, clients and regulators, strengthening reputation and trust.
• Boosting internal digitalization, by forcing the integration of systems and working with data in a more agile way.
• And most importantly, turn reporting into a management tool, not just a compliance tool.

As is often the case in times of change, those who lead this transition will not necessarily be those with the most resources, but those who anticipate and better connect their stakeholders, value chains and sustainability narratives with the new regulatory and technological requirements.

The Omnibus package is both a technical challenge and a strategic opportunity. Its success will depend on how this simplification process is finalized, as the next step is the delivery of the amendments to the ESRS standards under which the CSRD is reported, a task assigned to ERFRAG with a deadline of October this year, which will then be evaluated and approved by the European Commission.

In a context where data is gold and sustainability is no longer optional, simplifying is not trivializing, it is doing more with less, and doing it better. The key lies in companies not taking on these changes as just another obligation, but as a lever for value creation, simplification, competitiveness and intelligent transparency.

If you are interested in learning more about how the Omnibus package is redefining the reporting landscape in Europe, we have prepared an exclusive white paper with a clear, strategic and practical analysis of all the changes. A must-have guide to help you anticipate, make informed decisions and transform compliance into competitive advantage. Download it here and take your sustainability strategy to the next level.