EU Regulations Every PR Pro Should Know And Care About As Of October 2025

Marielle Onana
Oct 10
3 min read

EU flag waves, featuring yellow stars on blue. In the background, a sign reads "European Commission," set against a blue backdrop. — From AI laws to ad bans, the EU’s regulatory machine never sleeps. Here’s what every PR pro should have on their radar as of October 2025.

If you think EU regulations are only for lawyers, I’ve got bad news: they’re basically running your PR calendar now.

Here’s your quick, no-fluff rundown of what Brussels has been cooking lately, and why it matters even if your “policy” experience stops at trying to decode LinkedIn’s algorithm.

🧨 Meta (and Google) have hit pause on political & social-issue ads in the EU

Meta and Google have stopped running political, electoral and “social issue” ads across the EU thanks to new Transparency rules (TTPA). The definition of social issue is so broad it basically covers half of purpose-driven comms, from sustainability to inclusion. I discussed it in more details in my previous blog post here.

Because apparently, democracy is just too hard to advertise.

Why you should care:If you’re planning a “let’s change the world” campaign with paid social, you might need to rethink your strategy and start building your organic muscle (newsletters, influencer collabs...)

♻️ The CSRD “Stop-the-Clock” twist

Sustainability reporting just got… even more confusing (who saw that coming?).

The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) deadlines keep shifting as countries transpose the law at different speeds. Ireland has done it; others are catching up.

I think I'm only a little bit confused by all this. Just a little bit.

Why you should care: Comms teams will need to sync their sustainability content calendars with the actual reporting dates. Saying your brand “already complies” when it doesn’t? That’s not storytelling, that’s greenwashing with a side of legal risk.

💅 The Digital Fairness Act (and why influencers should start sweating)

The EU just completed its consulting on a new Digital Fairness Act. Fancy name, but it’s basically about fair play online. It could redefine rules around platform practices and influencer marketing.

The “#ad” hashtag might not be enough anymore.

Why you should care: Because if you work with influencers, transparency rules are about to level up. Expect stricter disclosure standards, and possibly… paperwork. (Sorry.)

🗞️ The European Media Freedom Act kicks in

The EMFA officially came (fully) into force in August 2025, and it’s all about protecting editorial independence and transparency in media ownership.

Less spin, more substance.

Why you should care: The PR–press relationship is about to change. Think tighter scrutiny of “sponsored” content and government partnerships. It’s a big win for journalism, and a reminder to do PR with integrity.

🤖 The EU’s AI Act & Apply AI Strategy

Yes, the AI Act is still happening, and the Commission just released its “Apply AI” strategy to help businesses adopt it responsibly.

One word: Transparency.

Why you should care:If you’re using ChatGPT (hi 👋) or AI tools for writing, design, or monitoring, you’ll soon need disclosure and compliance policies. Transparency isn’t optional anymore.

🍏 The Digital Markets Act drama

Apple, Meta and others are still sparring with the EU over the DMA, and the Commission is happily fining anyone who blinks wrong.

I don't want to scare you, but don’t trust your campaign plan too much... or Big Tech. Both, actually.

Why you should care: Because every time Big Tech adjusts to new EU rules, the ad formats, analytics, and features you rely on change overnight.

🔐 Cybersecurity & transparency get real (NIS2 & DSA)

The EU’s new NIS2 cybersecurity rules and DSA enforcement steps mean companies need to be faster and more transparent when something goes wrong: whether that’s a hack, misinformation incident, or algorithmic glitch.

The “we take this seriously” statement is officially banned by Brussels (well, morally).

Why you should care: Your crisis comms template from 2018 won’t cut it anymore. Speed, honesty, and coordination with legal are now part of the law.

🧩 Final thoughts

If you’ve made it this far: Congrats, you’re now a little bit more fluent in EU-ese. These laws might sound boring, but they’re shaping how we tell stories, engage audiences, and earn trust. It's not just politics, it's PR at scale.

Want to go deeper? I’ve added credible sources just for you here 👇