Seneste dokumenter

Stillere : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Resumé : The digitalisation of political campaigning has made transparency in political advertising essential for electoral integrity. The Regulation on the Targeting and Transparency of Political Advertising (TTPA) – the EU’s main regulatory response – introduces harmonised transparency obligations and limits on targeting and ad-delivery techniques. A first challenge in implementing the Regulation concerns the definition of political advertising, especially the treatment of issue-based advertising. The breadth of the definition creates legal uncertainty and risks incentivising risk-avoidance strategies by major platforms and search engines. A second challenge lies in the TTPA’s interaction with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. While they are broadly complementary, overlaps in platform obligations and enforcement structures may create confusion and fragmented supervision. Further guidance is needed to ensure coherence across the EU digital rulebook. A third challenge is the timely and effective establishment of the European repository for online political advertisements. The repository is central to public scrutiny and research, especially after some major platforms limited or discontinued political advertising archives in the EU. If implementation is delayed or incomplete, a significant transparency gap will remain. A fourth challenge concerns supervision and enforcement. The TTPA relies on multiple competent authorities, while leaving Member States considerable discretion in institutional design and sanctions. Without strong coordination, implementation may become uneven across the Union. A fifth challenge concerns the role of influencers. Although the TTPA applies to influencers, uncertainties remain regarding their classification and the obligations applicable to them. In the short term, guidance should facilitate compliance; in the longer term, a clearer framework may be needed. The effective impact of the TTPA depends on whether the EU can implement it consistently, close emerging transparency gaps and avoid fragmented enforcement.

Ekstern forfatter : Edoardo BRESSANELLI, Samuele BERNARDI

Stillere : SERPIERI Margherita

Ekstern forfatter : Nicola LUCCHI

Resumé : This briefing provides background information for the members of the Special committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) on election infrastructure vulnerabilities to foreign interference and on corresponding countermeasures. The briefing focuses on the criticality of election infrastructure and on safeguarding electoral integrity, also in light of the approach set out in the Commission’s Communication on the European Democracy Shield. Moreover, the paper considers the role of private sector election interference services. The briefing begins with an introduction to the different components of election infrastructure and general information on the conduct of elections. It continues with an overview of the election infrastructure interference threat landscape, taking the findings of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) into account. It then examines recommendations provided by the European Cooperation Network on Elections to mitigate these threats. Next, the briefing presents a section on critical infrastructure legislation and on the measures outlined in the European Democracy Shield to protect election infrastructure. This briefing has been prepared internally by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Justice, Civil Liberties and Institutional Affairs at the request of the EUDS Committee

Stillere : PASSAMERA Olga Johanna

Resumé : Academic freedom is widely recognised as a fundamental value of contemporary higher education and research, and as a prerequisite for well-functioning democratic societies. However, in recent years, major concerns have been expressed by various stakeholders about the state of academic freedom in the European Union. The European Parliament annual Academic Freedom Monitor aims to improve the promotion and protection of academic freedom in the EU. The 2025 edition is organised in two parts. The first part consists of an update of existing measures of academic freedom in all EU Member States, an updated overview of public debate and studies of the state of academic freedom in four selected EU Member States, and an examination of the EU's state of academic freedom in a global context. The second part contains a thematic analysis of the potential impact of selected trends in academic freedom within the EU, namely political polarisation, recent developments in the US higher education and research system, the commercialisation of academia, and foreign interference. Furthermore, EU-level policy options are proposed for possible legislative and non-legislative initiatives to enhance the support for academic freedom in the EU Member States.

Ekstern forfatter : Ceran, Olga; Kosta, Vasiliki; Maassen, Peter A. M.; Martinsen, Dennis; Mattei, Paola; Živanić, Lazar , Živanić, Lazar

Ekstern forfatter : Edoardo BRESSANELLI

Resumé : On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026 (2026 CWP). In line with the Commission President's political guidelines and letter of intent and highlighting the need for full implementation of Mario Draghi's competitiveness report, the 2026 CWP places a strong emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and collective security. In parallel, the Commission commits to advancing simplification, implementation, and this year, also to strengthening enforcement. These three areas will remain key horizontal priorities for the entire Commission mandate. Just like last year's CWP, the 2026 CWP adheres to the seven headline ambitions put forward in the political guidelines. It is accompanied by a report on implementation, simplification and enforcement, the first of its kind. This new annual report is set to replace the annual burden survey. Annex I of the 2026 CWP puts forward 70 major new legislative and non-legislative initiatives, 44 % of which fall under the competitiveness headline ambition. (Up to) 48 of the new initiatives are legislative, including three sector-specific omnibus packages (on energy product legislation, taxation and citizens). Of the forthcoming legislative initiatives, 67 % are likely revisions of existing legislation, while more than half have a strong simplification dimension. Unlike previous CWPs, the 2026 CWP does not indicate whether a legislative initiative will be accompanied by an impact assessment; this lack of transparency runs counter to the spirit of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. Information on the Commission's 'Have your say' portal shows that, at the time of writing, two thirds of the up to 48 legislative initiatives were expected to be accompanied by an impact assessment (though the final number may be higher). The annual evaluation plan presented in Annex II of the CWP, comprising 20 evaluations, does not appear exhaustive. Finally, the communication on Better Regulation, expected in Q2 2026, may entail a revision of the Better Regulation Guidelines, the first since 2021.

Stillere : ANGLMAYER Irmgard, DALLI HUBERT, IOANNIDES Isabelle

Resumé : This study reviews the current framework to protect democracy in the EU in view of the forthcoming European Democracy Shield. It provides a comprehensive map of the existing instruments, while identifying and assessing outstanding policy challenges, regulatory gaps and implementation issues. The study also formulates recommendations to strengthen democratic resilience. The study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Justice, Civil Liberties and Institutional Affairs at the request of the EUDS Special Committee

Stillere : BRESSANELLI EDOARDO