A method in a data processing system for propagation of filter expressions across multi-layered systems. If a selection criteria expression in a data request received by a first data processing engine from an application is incompatible with selection criteria expressions of a second data processing engine, the data request and the portion of the selection criteria expression that is compatible with selection criteria expressions of the second data processing engine is transmitted to the second data processing engine. If the second data processing engine received a message that matches the compatible portion of the selection criteria expression, the message that matches is transmitted to the first data processing engine. If the message that matches the compatible portion also matches the portion of the selection criteria expression that is incompatible with the selection criteria expressions of the second data processing engine, the message that matches is transmitted to the application.