Skip to content
DRAFT OPINION (COM(2021)0731 – C90433/2021 – 2021/0381(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and targeting of political advertising

AFCO-PA-719609

Committee on Constitutional Affairs · Rapporteur: Daniel Freund

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 28 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs gives its opinion on the proposed regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising. It proposes a single European political advertising repository run by the Commission, funded by a fee on political advertising revenue with SMEs exempted. It asks that very large online platforms display a limited amount of political ads free of charge during European Parliament elections, based on equal access for registered electoral entities. It seeks to clarify the scope of political advertising to cover ads generated and promoted by the same actor and commercial advertising liable to affect regulatory, legislative or voting behaviour, while exempting messages that exclusively inform about elections. It calls for reinforced due diligence, data protection safeguards for targeting and amplification, and sufficient resources for oversight authorities.

Committee position. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs calls on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection to take into account its amendments, which propose a single European repository, free political ads on very large platforms during European Parliament elections, clarified scope, and reinforced due diligence and data protection safeguards.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur proposes a single European political advertising repository, set up and managed by the Commission, to publish transparency notices and list campaigns and electoral periods.
  2. The repository's costs would be covered by a fee on political advertising revenue, with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises exempted, and revenue dedicated entirely to the repository.
  3. During European Parliament elections, very large online platforms providing political advertising services would have to display randomised political advertisements free of charge in a dedicated, visible section, based on equal access.
  4. Only registered political entities complying with registration rules in their constituency could submit such advertisements, in a standardised format defined by each platform.
  5. Political advertising would cover messages generated and promoted by the same actor and commercial advertising liable to affect legislative, regulatory or voting behaviour; messages exclusively informing about elections would be exempt.
  6. Additional due diligence requirements would apply to political advertising services, including contractual arrangements requiring sponsors to provide accurate and complete information.
  7. Transparency notices would include the identity and establishment of the sponsor, dissemination period, linked election, amounts spent, source of funds, and targeting criteria and number of views where applicable.
  8. During electoral or referendum periods, transparency notices would be made available as soon as the advertising is published or disseminated.
  9. Political advertising publishers would have to notify sponsors of reports of non-compliance, request feedback, and correct or remove items within 48 hours during elections or referendums.
  10. Controllers using targeting and amplification techniques would have to adopt, implement and publish a policy, keep a public record, and provide meaningful information on targeting logic and parameters.
  11. Very large online platforms would have to identify systemic risks at least once a year, including risks to verification systems, misinformation, disinformation, coordinated inauthentic behaviour and fundamental rights.
  12. Member States would have to transmit national electoral period dates to the Commission for publication in the repository, and designate contact points that should be members of the European Cooperation Network on Elections.

Who is affected

  • Political advertising publishers, who would have to publish transparency notices, report mechanisms and, for very large platforms, display free ads and assess risks.
  • Providers of political advertising services, who would have to ensure contractual arrangements allow due diligence and information accuracy.
  • Very large online platforms, which would have to display free political ads during European Parliament elections and conduct risk assessments.
  • Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which would be exempt from the repository fee.
  • Member States, which would have to publish and transmit electoral period dates and designate contact points.

Figures and deadlines

  • 48 hours to correct or remove reported political advertisements during elections or referendums.
  • Five years retention period for information referred to in Article 6(1).
  • At least once a year risk assessment by very large online platforms.

Legal basis: Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.