Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (European Media Freedom Act)

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 - adopted by the co-legislators on 11 April 2024 - setting out a common framework aimed at protecting media pluralism and independence in the European Union (EU). It is known as the European Media Freedom Act. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

This Regulation lays down common rules for the proper functioning of the internal market for media services and establishes a European Board for Media Services, while seeking to safeguard their independence and pluralism. The text sets out harmonised rules on the transparency of media ownership, allocation of state advertising to media service providers and protection of journalistic sources.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 16 September 2022, alongside a Recommendation focusing  on internal safeguards for editorial independence and ownership transparency in the media sector. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the file on 21 June 2023. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position for this proposal on 3 October. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for the draft law was reached on 15 December. This was formally endorsed by Parliament on 13 March 2024 and by the Council on 26 March. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 11 April 2024 and published in the Official Journal on 17 April 2024.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EUI: Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom: Observatory on the European Media Freedom Act https://cmpf.eui.eu/observatory-on-the-european-media-freedom-act/

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: EU Digital Strategy Hub: European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) https://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/our-thinking/campaigns/technology-quotient/tech-and-platform-regulation/eu-digital-strategy/european-media-freedom-act-emfa/

Hungary Today: Opinion, 13/09/2022: The EU’s Media Freedom Act is a Concealed Threat to the Freedom of Speech https://hungarytoday.hu/opinion-the-eus-media-freedom-act-is-a-concealed-threat-to-the-freedom-of-speech/

European Centre for Press & Media Freedom (ECPMF): Joint Statement on the Proposal for the European Media Freedom Act (16 September 2022) https://www.ecpmf.eu/joint-statement-on-the-proposal-for-the-european-media-freedom-act/

Article 19: Resources, 16/09/2022: EU: Media Freedom Act is an important step in safeguarding media plurality https://www.article19.org/resources/eu-media-freedom-act/

European Publishers Council (EPC): News, 16/09/2022: European Commission unveils bold and ambitious Media Freedom Act https://www.epceurope.eu/post/european-commission-unveils-bold-and-ambitious-media-freedom-act

London School of Economics (LSE): EUROPP Blog, 16/09/2022: The democratic fightback has begun: The European Commission’s new European Media Freedom Act https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/09/16/the-democratic-fightback-has-begun-the-european-commissions-new-european-media-freedom-act/

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 16/09/2022: Proposed European Media Freedom Act adopts the approach of the New Deal for Journalism https://rsf.org/en/proposed-european-media-freedom-act-adopts-approach-new-deal-journalism

European Policy Centre (EPC): Events, 19/09/2022: The Media Freedom Act: enforcing media pluralism for resilient European democracies? https://www.epc.eu/en/events/The-Media-Freedom-Act-enforcing-media-pluralism~4a43b8

Euronews, 19/09/2022: Media freedom: 'We see a negative trend in almost all member states’, says Věra Jourová https://www.euronews.com/2022/09/19/vera-jourova-we-should-do-more-to-protect-the-media-against-political-interference

London School of Economics (LSE): Media@LSE Blog, 20/09/2022: The democratic fightback has begun: The European Commission’s new European Media Freedom Act https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2022/09/20/the-democratic-fightback-has-begun-the-european-commissions-new-european-media-freedom-act/

The Platform Law Blog, 23/09/2022: Unravelling the Media Freedom Act proposal: Ambitious yet underwhelming? https://theplatformlaw.blog/2022/09/23/unravelling-the-media-freedom-act-proposal-ambitious-yet-underwhelming/

European Digital Rights (EDRi): Resources, 05/10/2022: New EU Regulation pushes for journalism and media protection online https://edri.org/our-work/new-eu-regulation-pushes-for-journalism-and-media-protection-online/

eucrim: News, 14/10/2022: Proposal for a European Media Freedom Act https://eucrim.eu/news/proposal-for-a-european-media-freedom-act/

European University Institute (EUI): EUIdeas Blog, 21/10/2022: Why the European Media Freedom Act is a groundbreaking step for Europe https://euideas.eui.eu/2022/10/21/why-the-european-media-freedom-act-is-a-groundbreaking-step-for-europe/

France24: Talking Europe, 04/11/2022: Media vs meddling: Dissecting the new 'European Media Freedom Act' https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/talking-europe/20221104-media-vs-meddling-dissecting-the-new-european-media-freedom-act

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD): News, 06/12/2022: The European Media Freedom Act: what’s at stake? https://gfmd.info/emfa-whats-at-stake/

Elcano Royal Institute: Working Paper, 16/12/2022: The geopolitical implications of the EU’s Media Freedom Act https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/work-document/the-geopolitical-implications-of-the-eus-media-freedom-act/

International Press Institute (IPI): Newsroom, 20/12/2022: How the European Media Freedom Act could affect Hungary and Poland https://ipi.media/how-the-european-media-freedom-act-could-affect-hungary-and-poland/

Verfassungsblog, 24/12/2022: A fragmented response to media freedom at risk in the Union https://verfassungsblog.de/a-fragmented-response-to-media-freedom-at-risk-in-the-union/

ARTE: Reportage (2023); European Media Freedom Act. How an EU law to protect journalists turned them into targets https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/113043-142-A/european-media-freedom-act/

International Press Institute (IPI): Newsroom, 23/01/2023: IPI position on the European Media Freedom Act https://ipi.media/ipi-position-on-the-european-media-freedom-act/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 21/02/2023: Safeguarding media freedom and pluralism in the internal market (Media Freedom Act) - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)740226

London School of Economics (LSE): Media@LSE Blog, 02/05/2023: Problematic aspects of the European Media Freedom Act – old and new https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2023/05/02/problematic-aspects-of-the-european-media-freedom-act-old-and-new/

EurActiv: Opinion, 15/05/2023: European Media Freedom Act: No to any media exemption https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/european-media-freedom-act-no-to-any-media-exemption/

European Broadcasting Union (EBU): News, 30/06/2023: European Parliament took an important step towards strengthening the European Media Freedom Act and ensuring media freedom in the digital sphere https://www.ebu.ch/news/2023/06/important-step-towards-european-media-freedom-act

European Law Blog, 24/07/2023: The Protection of Journalists through the Proposed European Media Freedom Act https://europeanlawblog.eu/2023/07/24/the-protection-of-journalists-through-the-proposed-european-media-freedom-act/

Social Europe, 31/07/2023: A European Media Freedom Act worthy of its name? https://www.socialeurope.eu/a-european-media-freedom-act-worthy-of-its-name

European Partnership for Democracy (EPD): News & Publications, August 2023: What is still missing from the European Media Freedom Act https://epd.eu/news-publications/what-is-still-missing-from-the-european-media-freedom-act/

Investigate Europe, 06/09/2023: Media freedom: can Brussels agree on landmark law to protect Europe’s at-risk journalists? https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/media-freedom-act-europe-journalists-regulation

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 27/09/2023: European media freedom act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)753935

Article 19, 27/09/2023: EU: Media pluralism test key for an effective European Media Freedom Act https://www.article19.org/resources/eu-media-pluralism-test-key-for-an-effective-european-media-freedom-act/

European Broadcasting Union (EBU): News, 19/10/2023: European Media Freedom Act: EBU's position for trilogue negotiations https://www.ebu.ch/news/european-media-freedom-act-ebus-position-for-trilogue-negotiations

EurActiv: Opinion, 27/11/2023: New EU media law: Ownership transparency provision needs broader scope https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/opinion/new-eu-media-law-ownership-transparency-provision-needs-broader-scope/

Heinrich Böll Foundation: Analysis, 13/12/2023: European Media Freedom Act will do little to keep up independent journalism in Hungary https://cz.boell.org/en/2023/12/13/european-media-freedom-act-hungary

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): Blog, 15/12/2023: EFJ welcomes agreement on European Media Freedom Act https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2023/12/15/efj-welcomes-agreement-on-european-media-freedom-act/

Pinsent Masons: Out-Law News, 05/01/2024: European Media Freedom Act agreement ‘step in right direction’ for press https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/european-media-freedom-act-agreement-for-press

European Digital Rights (EDRi): Resources, 17/01/2024: Challenges ahead: European Media Freedom Act falls short in safeguarding journalists and EU fundamental values https://edri.org/our-work/challenges-ahead-european-media-freedom-act-falls-short-in-safeguarding-journalists-and-eu-fundamental-values/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 06/02/2024: European media freedom act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)739202

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 06/03/2024: European media freedom act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2024)759620

Reporters Without Borders (RSF): News, 13/03/2024: European Media Freedom Act – big advance for right to information in Europe https://rsf.org/en/european-media-freedom-act-big-advance-right-information-europe

International Press Institute (IPI): Newsroom, 13/03/2024: Coalition calls for effective implementation as the Parliament adopts the European Media Freedom Act https://ipi.media/coalition-calls-for-effective-implementation-as-the-parliament-adopts-the-european-media-freedom-act/

Politico, 15/03/2024: It’s a new day for media freedom in the EU — if it stands up to its autocrats https://www.politico.eu/article/european-media-freedom-act-parliament-hungary-slovakia-vera-jourova-viktor-orban/

European Centre for Press & Media Freedom (ECPMF), 15/03/2024: Coalition calls for effective implementation as the Parliament adopts the European Media Freedom Act https://www.ecpmf.eu/coalition-calls-for-effective-implementation-as-the-parliament-adopts-the-european-media-freedom-act/

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): Blog, 26/03/2024: EFJ calls for immediate and ambitious implementation of the European Media Freedom Act https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2024/03/26/efj-calls-for-immediate-and-ambitious-implementation-of-the-european-media-freedom-act/

Creative Commons (CC), 04/04/2024: CC's take on the European Media Freedom Act https://creativecommons.org/2024/04/04/ccs-take-on-the-european-media-freedom-act/

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News

Politico, 08/09/2022: EU aims to shield media from state interference https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-rules-aim-to-shield-media-from-state-interference/

EurActiv, 08/09/2022: Commission to present new media law, leaving ownership unaddressed https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/commission-to-present-new-media-law-leaving-ownership-unaddressed/

Deutsche Welle, 16/09/2022: EU's media act steps up fight for press freedom https://p.dw.com/p/4GmiC

France24, 16/09/2022: European Union toughens stance on state meddling in media https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220916-european-union-toughens-stance-on-state-meddling-in-media

Reuters, 16/09/2022: EU wants to ensure independent media, tougher media mergers rules https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-wants-tougher-rules-media-pluralism-mergers-against-spying-journalists-2022-09-16/

EUObserver, 16/09/2022: New EU media bill seeks to curtail government meddling https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/156078

Le Monde, 16/09/2022: Brussels wants to legislate to preserve European media freedom and independence https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2022/09/16/brussels-wants-to-legislate-to-preserve-european-media-freedom-and-independence_5997131_19.html

Associated Press (AP News), 16/09/2022: EU drafts media act amid concern over spying, state pressure https://apnews.com/article/executive-branch-brussels-5058e3ab9651727045b9cf6b9a4cf165

Balkan Insight, 16/09/2022: EU adopts measures to defend media pluralism and independence https://balkaninsight.com/2022/09/16/eu-adopts-measures-to-defend-media-pluralism-and-independence/

RFI News, 19/09/2022: European Commission adopts media legislation to protect press freedom https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20220919-european-commission-adopts-media-legislation-to-protect-press-freedom

EurActiv, 05/12/2022: EU Council completes first review of Media Freedom Act https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/eu-council-completes-first-review-of-media-freedom-act/

EurActiv, 04/10/2023: EU media law enters home stretch but spyware, disinformation concerns persist https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/eu-media-law-enters-home-stretch-but-spyware-disinformation-concerns-persist/

EurActiv, 15/11/2023: Spanish presidency prepares to close most of EU media law in next negotiation round https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/spanish-presidency-prepares-to-close-most-of-eu-media-law-in-next-negotiation-round/

The Guardian, 22/11/2023: EU laws to protect press freedom in jeopardy, campaigners claim https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/nov/22/eu-laws-to-protect-press-freedom-in-jeopardy-campaigners-claim

EurActiv, 13/12/2023: EU’s media law faces crunch time on protection of journalists, board independence https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/eus-media-law-faces-crunch-time-on-protection-of-journalists-board-independence/

EurActiv, 15/12/2023: EU institutions agree new rules for media sector https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/eu-institutions-agree-new-rules-for-media-sector/

Politico, 13/03/2024: EU lawmakers adopt media freedom law https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lawmakers-adopt-media-freedom-law/

EurActiv, 13/03/2024: EU Parliament passes European Media Freedom Act, concerns over spyware remain https://www.euractiv.com/section/media/news/eu-parliament-passes-european-media-freedom-act-concerns-over-spyware-remain/

Euronews, 13/03/2024: EU Parliament votes to protect media freedom and limit spying on reporters https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/03/13/eu-parliament-votes-to-protect-media-freedom-and-limit-spying-on-reporters

Deutsche Welle, 13/03/2024: EU approves new media freedom law https://p.dw.com/p/4dTo2

France24, 13/03/2024: EU media freedom law approved by lawmakers https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240313-eu-media-freedom-law-approved-by-lawmakers

Le Monde, 13/03/2024: EU adopts media freedom law to protect journalists from political interference https://www.lemonde.fr/en/european-union/article/2024/03/13/eu-adopts-media-freedom-law-to-protect-journalists-from-political-interference_6614890_156.html

The Sofia Globe, 26/03/2024: EU ministers adopt European Media Freedom Act https://sofiaglobe.com/2024/03/26/eu-ministers-adopt-european-media-freedom-act/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)547: Proposal for a Regulation establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:457:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)286: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:286:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)287: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:287:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on European Media Freedom Act (2022/0277(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0277(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Proposal for a Regulation establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-new-push-for-european-democracy/file-european-media-freedom-act

General Secretariat of the Council (EU): Policies: Media freedom in the EU https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/media-freedom-eu/

European Commission: Press Release, 16/09/2022: European Media Freedom Act: Commission proposes rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5504

European Commission: Questions & Answers: European Media Freedom Act (16 September 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_5505

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 16/09/2022: EU Media Freedom Act essential to stop disinformation, propaganda and threats to independent journalism https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/eu-media-freedom-act-essential-stop-disinformation-propaganda-and-threats-independent

Irish Government: Press Release, 10/10/2022: Minister Martin meets with European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/917ee-minister-martin-meets-with-european-commission-vice-president-vera-jourova/

Finnish Government: Press Release, 10/11/2022: Finland supports the objectives of the European Media Freedom Act https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-supports-the-objectives-of-the-european-media-freedom-act

EU EDPS: Press Release, 14/11/2022: EU Media Freedom Act: EDPS calls for better protection for all journalists and a ban on highly advanced military-grade spyware https://edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/press-releases/2022/eu-media-freedom-act-edps-calls-better-protection-all-journalists-and-ban-highly-advanced-military-grade-spyware_en

European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA): Press Release, 29/11/2022: European Media Freedom Act (EMFA): ERGA adopts its position paper supporting the initiative and calling for an effective independence of the new European Board for Media Services https://erga-online.eu/?p=1269

European Free Trade Association (EFTA): News, 22/05/2023: EEA EFTA States suggest revisions to further strengthen the European Media Freedom Act https://www.efta.int/EEA/news/EEA-EFTA-States-suggest-revisions-further-strengthen-European-Media-Freedom-Act-535436

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 21/06/2023: European Media Freedom Act: Council secures mandate for negotiations https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/21/european-media-freedom-act-council-secures-mandate-for-negotiations/

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 07/09/2023: European Media Freedom Act brings more freedom to the media https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/european-media-freedom-act-brings-more-freedom-to-the-media

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 07/09/2023: European Media Freedom Act: Governments must not use national security as an excuse for pressuring journalists https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/european-media-freedom-act-governments-must-not-use-national-security-excuse-pressuring

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 15/12/2023: Council and Parliament strike deal on new rules to safeguard media freedom, media pluralism and editorial independence in the EU https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/15/council-and-parliament-strike-deal-on-new-rules-to-safeguard-media-freedom-media-pluralism-and-editorial-independence-in-the-eu/

European Commission: Press Release, 15/12/2023: Commission welcomes political agreement on European Media Freedom Act https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6635

Spanish Government: News, 15/12/2023: The Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union pushes for agreement on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/Paginas/2023/20231215_european-media-freedom-act.aspx

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/01/2024: European Media Freedom Act: EU member states’ representatives confirm provisional agreement https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/01/19/european-media-freedom-act-eu-member-states-representatives-confirm-provisional-agreement/

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/03/2024: Media Freedom Act: a new bill to protect EU journalists and press freedom https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19014/

Greens/EFA EP Group: Newsroom, 13/03/2024: The European Parliament approves a European Media Freedom Act https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/news/historic-day-in-the-european-parliament-as-european-media-freedom-act-receives-unanimous-approval

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 26/03/2024: European Media Freedom Act: Council adopts new rules to protect journalists and media providers https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/03/26/european-media-freedom-act-council-adopts-new-rules-to-protect-journalists-and-media-providers/

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