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AIG Newsletter 13 October 2025

Advertising Information Group-Newsletter

Lesedauer: 5 Minuten

CONTENT:

NEWS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEWS

In this week's edition: The Competitiveness Council meets to discuss simplification and reducing administrative burden. The EC adopts the first amendment to the Digital Europe Work Programme 2025-2027 and publishes its long-awaited AI Package, featuring an Apply AI Strategy and AI in Science Strategy. In the EP, Von der Leyen survives a rare double no confidence vote, and a plenary session addresses the promotion of EU digital regulations and protecting EU sovereignty. Danish Prime Minister announces her intention to ban social media access for under 15s, while the fate of the proposed French fast fashion law remains uncertain. Finally, the OECD publishes its 2025 report on Better Regulation Practices across the EU.

COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL DISCUSSES SIMPLIFICATION

The Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry) convened on 29 September to discuss several key initiatives, including the EU Competitiveness Fund. Ministers emphasised the importance of reducing administrative burdens through simplification measures such as the Omnibus packages, better regulation principles, and a "digital by default" approach. The Council also addressed the Single Market Strategy, stressing the need for ambitious digital initiatives to enhance competitiveness.

DIGITAL EUROPE PROGRAMME AMENDED TO INCLUDE DIGITAL AMBITIONS

On 6 October, the EC adopted the first amendment to the Digital Europe Work Programme 2025-2027, realigning investments with updated political priorities to support strategic technology development across the EU. The revision provides funding for several key initiatives, including the flagship AI Gigafactories project from the AI Continent Action Plan, and aligns with the forthcoming Democracy Shield Initiative. Importantly, it allocates resources for new EU Digital Media Observatory hubs to strengthen efforts against disinformation.

EC PUBLISHES AI PACKAGE

On 8 October, the EC unveiled its AI Package, comprising of the Apply AI and AI in Science Strategies, designed to accelerate AI adoption across industry, the public sector, and research. The Apply AI Strategy targets 11 key sectors, including healthcare, energy, mobility, and culture and media - whilst supporting SMEs and fostering an "AI first" approach. Simultaneously, the AI in Science Strategy seeks to establish the EU as a centre for AI-driven research excellence through RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe), a virtual institute coordinating AI resources for science.

VDL SURVIVES DOUBLE NO CONFIDENCE VOTE

Von der Leyen easily survived a rare double no confidence vote on 9 October. The motions of censure submitted by PfE and the Left criticised the EC for exceeding its mandate through the EU-US Trade Deal and Mercosur Agreement. PfE additionally accused the EC of weakening EU's global standing, financial scandals, illegal migration and censorship.

EP PLENARY DISCUSSES PROTECTING EU DIGITAL RULES

On 8 October, the EP's plenary session addressed the promotion of EU digital regulations and the protection of EU sovereignty, with statements from both the Council and the EC. Danish Minister of European Affairs, Marie Bjerre stressed that defending EU's digital sovereignty required ensuring EU rules, including the DSA and DMA, applied equally to all companies regardless of origin, particularly amid external pressure from the US and major technology firms. Executive Vice-President Virkkunen reinforced the EU's commitment to enforcing these regulations, whilst noting tangible progress such as enhanced platform transparency, improved protections for minors, and active enforcement measures against large technology companies.

DENMARK EYES SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDER 15S

The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced her government's intention to ban several social media platforms for children under 15, highlighting that nearly all Danish seventh graders (typically aged 13-14) own mobile phones. Whilst no specific bill appears in the government's upcoming legislative programme and few details were provided, the announcement follows a 2024 citizens' initiative that collected 50,000 signatures calling for bans on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Frederiksen suggested that parents should be able to grant permission for accounts from age 13 onwards, and the proposal aligns with Denmark's push for the EU to require tech companies to verify users' ages online.

LATEST ON THE FRENCH FAST FASHION DRAFT LAW

The French Fast Fashion draft law, which included a ban on advertising fast fashion, was covered by online news publisher, Contexte. The report, which cited AIG alongside the WFA, said that the EC issued two detailed opinions triggering a new three-month standstill period ending 30 December. Leaks of these opinions show that the EC is concerned that the draft law risks violating the country-of-origin principle of the E-Commerce Directive, and potentially contradicts the harmonisation effects of the DSA. Given the instability within the French government following the Prime Minister's resignation early last week, the fate of this draft law is unknown.

OECD REPORT ON 2025 BETTER REGULATION PRACTICES ACROSS THE EU

The OECD's Better Regulation Practices across the European Union 2025 report stresses that laws must be simpler, more proportionate, and consistently applied to unlock the Single Market's full potential while managing complex challenges such as AI and the green transition. Most Member States now had better regulation strategies and institutions in place, but their focus remained largely on designing new rules rather than implementing and reviewing existing ones. The report calls for stronger stakeholder engagement, evidence-based policymaking, and systematic evaluation of regulations.