Contact us T +32 (0)2 626 07 20 | info@europeangreens.eu

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr

Donate

  • Login to your account
  • User account
  • About Us
    • Organisation
    • People
    • Networks and Working Groups
    • Guidelines
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Get involved
    • Climate Action
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
    • Green Talking Heads
    • European Ideas Lab
    • The Green Screen
    • Local Councillors' Network
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
Home
  • About Us
  • Our Positions
  • Get involved
  • Member Parties
  • News
  • Events

A co-signed letter by European political parties addressed to Facebook on new advertising rules

Share
Share on FacebookShare on Twittershare on Linked Inshare on Google Plusshare via email

Mr Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook
1 Hacker Way
18.04.2019
Menlo Park
CA 94025
United States of America


Dear Mr Zuckerberg,


Since 15 April 2019, Facebook has put in place new rules for political advertisement in all EU
Member States. Effectively, paid political content will only be allowed in the country where
the ad buyer is based in.

These rules create an unprecedented barrier for European political organisations and political
parties.

Under the new rules, European political parties, established under EU law, and based on
Article 10 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), cannot advertise in all EU Member
States anymore, but basically only in Belgium.

This is extremely worrying just five weeks before the elections to the European Parliament.

European political parties, by definition, have members and constituencies all across the EU.
There are also many citizens of EU Member States who live in another Member State, but still
can and want to vote at home. Political groups in the European Parliament – which are by
definition not based in one Member State – also cannot advertise their content outside of
Belgium anymore. Article 10(4) of the TEU clearly states that “Political parties at European
level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens
of the Union.” – not national awareness on the national level of national citizens.

The new rules also do not make the European Parliament elections more secure. While
preventing European political parties from advertising their ideas across the EU, big
influencers from in- and outside the European Union, who want to have an impact on the
European elections, can still pay agencies at the national level and continue their aggressive
advertisement everywhere in the Union.

The new rules of Facebook also do not comply with the European rules on the cross-border
provision of services. Our rules clearly state that a provider contracted by an EU political
actor cannot be restrained to provide its services in only one Member State. This is in line
with stable case law on single market freedoms the European Court of Justice has built over
the last 60 years.

With these rules, Facebook is de facto putting barriers in place that will harm the European
discourse around a European democracy. It brings us back to the times of nation-states vs
nation-states, which the EU was founded to overcome.

The new rules will have no negative effect on the forces spreading most of the disinformation
that are supported by third countries or foreign political entities. In essence by nationalizing
the ad-campaigns, Facebook is disadvantaging the communication of legitimate European
transnational organizations.

Facebook Vice-President for Global Affairs and Communications Nick Clegg stated in
Brussels in January 2019:  "How can you be in favor of an open world and at the same time
not allow people on your platforms in a legitimate way to appeal to voters?" We expect that
Facebook stands by his words.

We expect Facebook to change its rules within a matter of days to be in compliance with EU
rules, in order to allow EU-level political parties and other entities to participate in the
European political discourse in the run-up to the European Parliament elections between May
23 to May 26, 2019. All European political parties that are registered with the Authority for
European Political Parties and European Political Foundations should immedately be allowed
to run Europe-wide advertisementson Facebook.

We will not accept being limited to national public spheres in a common Europe and we do
hope that you will work with us to effect the necessary changes.

Best regards,


Dara Murphy, Vice-President and Campaign Director of the European People’s Party
Sergei Stanishev, President of the Party of European Socialists
Jan Zahradil, President of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe
Hans van Baalen, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Reinhard Bütikofer, Co-chair of the European Green Party
Monica Frassoni, Co-chair of the European Green Party
Gregor Gysi, President of the Party of European Left
Lorena Lopez de La Calle, President of the European Free Alliance

Europe & Democracy

Recent News

Icon:
Co-Chairs Thomas Waitz and Mélanie Vogel
Title:

Our newly elected Co-Chairs Mélanie Vogel and Thomas Waitz share their vision for the future of the European Greens

Post date:
12 July 2022
Body:

Mélanie Vogel and Thomas Waitz speak on the future of the European Green Party, the current political priorities for the Greens, and how they're getting ready for the 2024 elections.

Icon:
Title:

Sustainable agriculture can help tackle a food crisis fuelled by climate shocks and war

Post date:
08 July 2022
Body:

Together, Russia and Ukraine exported more than a quarter of the world's wheat before the war. Now, the war is impacting food security across the globe. As Greens, we believe that food should never be used as a geopolitical weapon – and we should never be in the position for it to be used against us.

Position:
Environment & Food
Icon:
Title:

The end of Roe vs. Wade in the US must push us to defend abortion rights in Europe

Post date:
30 June 2022
Body:

European Greens Co-Chair Mélanie Vogel (France), and Committee Members Mina Jack Tolu (Malta) and Malgorzata Tracz (Poland) speak out on the current state of abortion rights in Europe. Access to safe, legal and free abortion must be guaranteed across Europe and abroad to create a more humane world for all and protect those most marginalised!

More News

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr
Tweet Contents:

🇯🇵 In 1945 the US detonated 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

☢️ Now, @antonioguterres signals nuclear threats from the war in Ukraine and international tensions put us 'one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation'

🕊 Only a nuclear-free world can prevent catastrophe https://t.co/gcjkOIGPvg

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
1 day ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @Melanie_Vogel_: La Chine est une dictature.

Un dictature qui organise le genocide des #Ouighours, menace illégitimement #Taiwan et sa…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
2 days ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @DritanAbazovic: Sto dana. Puno rada i još više rezultata. Tek će da bude. 🇪🇺🇲🇪🇪🇺🇲🇪 https://t.co/mxQt1h4lsD

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
2 days ago

Sign up to our newsletter

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank.

Take charge of your future. Donate Green.

Chip in today to help us build a Greener Europe!

Donate

  • Organisation
    • About
    • History
    • Councils
    • Congresses
    • Finance Advisory Board
    • Amendments Committee
    • Conciliation Panel
  • People
    • Committee
    • Team
    • Vacancies
    • Traineeships
  • Networks and Working Groups
    • Networks
      • Balkan
      • Mediterranean
      • Gender
      • tilt!
      • Queer
      • Local Councillors
      • Seniors
      • Disability
    • Working Groups
      • Foreign and Security Policy
      • Future of Europe
      • Trade
  • Guidelines
    • Charter
    • Statutes
    • Rulebook
    • Finances
    • Privacy Policy
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • The Green Screen
    • Climate Action for the People and the Planet
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
  • Donate
Home

Rue du Taciturne 34

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

T +32 (0) 2 626 07 20

info@europeangreens.eu

© European Greens - With the financial support of the European Parliament. Sole liability remains with the author.

cookies