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DRAFT REPORT (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

IMCO-PR-732754

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Sandro Gozi

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

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The rapporteur's draft report sets out Parliament's amendments to the proposed regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising. It adds due diligence duties for sponsors, providers and publishers, and rules on labelling, transparency notices and ad libraries. It restricts political advertising services to sponsors who are Union citizens or persons residing or established in the Union, and requires non-EU providers to designate a legal representative registered with national contact points. It requires publishers to label political advertisements, provide transparency notices and give individuals free notification mechanisms, with 48-hour handling of notices in the month before an election or referendum. It sets rules for targeting and amplification using personal data, including information on the logic and main parameters used and a reference to data protection rights. It provides for supervision by independent national authorities, a permanent Network of National Contact Points, penalties including periodic penalty payments, and a Commission review by 31 December 2026.

Committee position. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal and proposes amendments to clarify its scope, add due diligence obligations, strengthen transparency and notification rules, tighten rules on targeting and amplification, and improve supervision, sanctions and review.

Key points

  1. The draft adds due diligence obligations to the transparency rules for sponsors, providers of political advertising services and publishers, and says the regulation should protect fundamental rights and not affect the content of political advertising.
  2. It defines political advertising as messages by, for or on behalf of a political actor, or designed and liable to influence an election, referendum, legislative or regulatory process or voting behaviour, unless purely private or commercial.
  3. It lists criteria for identifying a political advertisement, including content, sponsor, language, means of dissemination, targeted audience, context, objective and a clear and substantial link to influence.
  4. It requires contractual arrangements for political advertising services to specify how the regulation is complied with, and allows services only to sponsors who are Union citizens or persons residing or established in the Union.
  5. It requires sponsors and intermediaries to declare in good faith and in clear terms whether advertising is political, to correct manifestly erroneous declarations, and to provide information in a timely, complete and accurate manner.
  6. It requires providers to retain information for five years and transmit it to the publisher, and requires publishers to label each political advertisement and provide a transparency notice with sponsor identity, spending, funding sources and linked elections.
  7. It requires the Commission to adopt delegated acts establishing harmonised and prominent labels for political advertising within six months of entry into force.
  8. It requires publishers to set up free notification mechanisms, to process notices in a timely, diligent and objective manner, and to handle notices within 48 hours in the month before an election or referendum.
  9. It requires publishers using targeting or amplification with personal data to disclose the logic, main parameters, targeted groups, data categories and sources, and to reference means to exercise data protection rights, including consent.
  10. It requires non-EU providers to designate a legal representative registered with national single contact points, and Member States to keep public registers of those representatives.
  11. It requires independent national competent authorities, a permanent Network of National Contact Points, and penalties including administrative fines and periodic penalty payments for serious and repeated violations.
  12. It requires the Commission to review the regulation within two years after each European Parliament election and by 31 December 2026, and to encourage codes of conduct, guidance and standards.

Who is affected

  • Sponsors of political advertising, who must declare in good faith whether advertising is political and provide accurate information.
  • Providers of political advertising services, who must retain and transmit information and follow due diligence rules.
  • Political advertising publishers, who must label ads, publish transparency notices and handle notifications.
  • Non-EU providers offering services in the Union, who must designate a legal representative in a Member State.
  • Member States, which must designate independent competent authorities, keep registers and lay down penalties.

Figures and deadlines

  • Information must be retained for five years from the last preparation, placement, promotion, publication or dissemination.
  • Harmonised labels for political advertising must be adopted by the Commission within 6 months after entry into force.
  • Notices about advertisements linked to an election or referendum must be handled within 48 hours in the month preceding the vote.
  • Providers must respond to competent authority requests within 10 working days, and within 48 hours in the month before an election or referendum.
  • The Commission must submit a review report by 31 December 2026 at the latest.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Articles 16 and 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.