What EU political ads regulation will – and will not – deliver

International Democracy Day 2025 in Brussels offered both a sobering reality check and a source of renewed inspiration. Over two days of high-level panels and lightning talks, some 400 democracy activists, organisations, academics and politicians from around the world debated how to strengthen democracy at a time of crisis.

When the European Union first proposed a standalone Regulation on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), expectations were high: the initiative was meant to demonstrate the EU’s commitment to protecting democracy in the digital age and addressing specific risks to electoral integrity. As the Regulation enters into application on 10 October 2025, its prospects appear shaky.

Across the globe, civic space is under pressure. This trend not only limits citizens’ ability to exercise fundamental rights but also erodes accountability and weakens democracy. The forthcoming EU Civil Society Strategy offers a crucial opportunity. To ensure that civil society can thrive as a watchdog, partner, and innovator, the EU must move beyond piecemeal support and mainstream civic space protection across all internal and external policies, while also supporting the wider enabling environment for civil society.