Source: European Parliament
The Commission strives to bring the EU closer to its citizens by informing and engaging them on the role of the EU and EU policies and initiatives, or how EU citizens can make the best of their rights in the EU. To achieve this, it uses a wide range of communication tools. These include public communication campaigns and advertising.
As part of specific communication actions, the Commission also engages with content creators by providing them with information on EU topics and organising study visits to the EU institutions.
The Commission’s communication actions involving advertising or work with social media influencers are carried out in full transparency and respect the editorial independence of the media.
When running advertising campaigns, the Commission adheres to applicable national legislation and uses the transparency tools provided by each media and social media platforms, such as transparency labels and notices.
As regards political advertising, Regulation (EU) 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising[1] sets, among others, new rules on labelling and transparency notices, including to provide information about the sponsor of the political advertising, the amounts spent and their sources, which will enter fully into application from October 2025.
The Commission provides financing in the limit of the authorised appropriations for this purpose in accordance with the rules under the Financial Regulation[2].
In the period 2021-2023, the Commission had an annual budget of EUR 30 million used to finance EU-wide corporate communication campaigns, including advertising in media outlets. Recipients of EU funds of EUR 15 000 and above are listed in the Financial Transparency System[3].