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

What it is

to establish a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) to safeguard the pluralism and independence of the media in the EU internal market. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: independent media services play a unique role in the internal market. Given their unique role, the protection of media freedom and pluralism is an essential feature of a well-functioning internal market for media services. This market has substantially changed since the beginning of the new century, becoming increasingly digital and international. It offers many economic opportunities but also faces a number of challenges. The Committee on Culture and Education adopted the report by Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU. The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows: The amended text stipulates that the Regulation lays down common rules for the proper functioning of the internal market for media services, including the establishment of the European Board for Media Services (the ‘Board’), and common basic principles to serve as minimum standards, while ensuring the independence of media services. Member States should respect effective editorial freedom of media service providers. Member States, including their national regulatory authorities and bodies, should not : - oblige media services providers or their employees to disclose any information related to editorial processing, including on their sources, or to disseminate such information; - access encrypted content data on any device or in any machine used by media service providers or, if applicable, their families or their employees or their family members or, if applicable, any other person belonging to their professional or private network of relationships, including occasional contacts; - deploy surveillance measures or use surveillance technology, or instruct private entities to use such measures or such technology, in any device or machine used by media service providers; - deploy spyware or any similar intrusive technology, or instruct private entities to use spyware or such technology, in any device or machine used by media service providers. Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers The report stated that Member States should ensure, by means of national law and their actions, that the principles of independence, accountability, effectiveness, transparency and openness are respected when the management structures of public service media are appointed. They should also appoint an independent authority or establish independent procedures for determining the financial needs…

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