Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourov said there were too many examples of the risks stemming from the digital realm, like the Brexit referendum. Mr. David Jones MP, a former Brexit minister, spoke about the proposals to Express.co. The outcome of the referendum, the largest and most successful democratic exercise in British history, has come as a serious shock to Brussels, which obviously regards it as a threat to the integrity of the EU. Ms Jourov said that the Commission has been notified of a series of new legal proposals that will affect political campaigning across the bloc - both online and in the print media. The new rules could affect the ability of UK campaigning organisations to support independence movements in EU member countries starting from Spring 2023, as well as the ability of UK campaigning organisations to support independence movements in EU member countries.
In commenting on the Brexit referendum and other events such as the Capitol Hill demonstrations after the US elections in which Donald Trump was defeated, EU Commissioner Jourov described the package as a reaction to these events and also to loopholes identified in our systems. The new measures relate mostly to political advertising but also include promotional activities by politicians and campaign groups where funding is involved. The EU referred to the political adverts regulation as the most innovative piece of the package. Ms Jourova said it had never been done before. Our aim is to put order in the world of political advertising, especially online. The EU Commission has outlined the main measures set out in the proposed regulation. Political ads cover ads by, for, or on behalf of a political actor, as well as so-called issue-based ads that are liable to influence the outcome of an election or referendum, a legislative or regulatory process or voting behaviour. The Commission defines political advertising as the preparation, placement, promotion, publication, or dissemination of a message that everyone involved in political campaigning - whether a PR company or an online platform - will have to abide by the new rules. This will cover actors outside the production chain, including politicians, political parties and campaign organisations. The Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, goes on to say: Since advertisements by, for or on behalf of a political actor cannot be detached from their activities as a political actor, they are presumed to be liable to influence the political debate. The regulations that are going to be contentious when they come to the EU Parliament relate to transparency of political donations. Some parts of the proposed new laws and directives may be contested by the Eurosceptic parties. READ MORE: EU news LIVE: Furious rebels to hit out TODAY as they ignore rules.
The new laws of the Commission will not prohibit the public from seeing messages in the future, but they will make it harder for any campaigning groups such as the Eurosceptic movements across the bloc to promote their messages to the public. The Commission admits that these onerous new regulations are prompted by the experience of the Brexit referendum in the UK and it is legitimate to seek to ensure transparency in online campaigning. The outcome of the referendum - the biggest and most successful democratic exercise in British history - has come as a huge shock to Brussels, which sees it as a threat to the integrity of the EU. The rules are intended to serve as a deterrent to campaigners, particularly small groups, which won't have the resources to deal with them. This overbearing approach only highlights the nervousness of the EU in the face of popular democracy. The EU's top court chief issues a ominous warning on the survival of the bloc.
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