Free media are a key pillar of every democracy and they are essential for a healthy market economy. On a global scale, the European Union remains a stronghold for free media, setting a standard as a democratic continent. Yet, there are increasingly worrying trends. Building on past efforts, the Commission has taken a number of measures to protect media freedom and pluralism in the EU, in addition to enhancing free movement of services. This has culminated in the European Media Freedom Act, which was politically agreed by the European Parliament and the Council on 15 December 2023, after being put forward by the Commission on 16 September 2022.
Media companies cannot be treated as just another business. Their independence is essential. Europe needs a law that safeguards this independence – and the Commission will deliver a Media Freedom Act in the next year.
New rules to protect media pluralism and independence
The European Media Freedom Act will put in place a new set of rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. They will ensure that media – public and private – can operate more easily across borders in the EU internal market, without undue pressure and taking into account the digital transformation of the media space.
Among others, the European Media Freedom Act will
- Protect editorial independence
- Protect journalistic sources, including against the use of spyware
- Ensure the independent functioning of public service media
- Enhance transparency of media ownership
- Safeguard media against unjustified online content removal by very large online platforms
- Introduce a right of customisation of the media offer on devices and interfaces
- Enhance transparency in state advertising for media service providers and online platforms
- Ensure Member States provide an assessment of the impact of key media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence
- Boost transparency in audience measurement for media service providers and advertisers
A new independent European Board for Media Services will be set up, comprised of national media authorities and assisted by a Commission secretariat. The Board will, among others, promote the effective and consistent application of the EU media law framework.
Editorial decisions will be better protected from undue interference and, in the case of public service media, journalists will have assurances that their employer is equipped with adequate, sustainable, and predictable funding for future operations, in accordance with their public service remit.
The Act also provides strong safeguards for the confidentiality of journalistic sources and communications, including in relation to the use of intrusive surveillance software against media, journalists and those in regular or professional relationships with media or journalists.
EU support for free media
There are also a number of ways in which the EU is supporting media freedom and pluralism, including by:
- Having press and media councils that strengthen the position of press and media councils in a converged media environment (Budget: €0.9 million)
- Implementing a Media Ownership Monitoring System to provide a country-based database containing information on media ownership (Budget: €500,000)
- Providing grants to support innovation of local and regional media and boost pluralism (Budget: €2 million)
- Having a rapid response mechanism to provide practical help to protect journalists under threat (Budget: €3.1 million)
- Implementing a Media Pluralism Monitor to identify potential risks to media pluralism (Budget: €1.1 million)
- Supporting regranting for media sectors of special relevance to democracy (such as local and investigative journalism, public interest and community media) as part of Creative Europe’s Journalism Partnerships (Budget: €5 million)
- Establishing a Media Freedom Hub to support existing and established independent Russian and Belarusian media working in the EU (Budget: €2.9 million)
Key actions
- December 2023
Political agreement reached on the European Media Freedom Act
- November 2023
Political agreement reached on countering abusive lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP)
- September 2022
Proposal for a European Media Freedom Act
- December 2020
- December 2020
- December 2020
- September 2020
- November 2018