Act on the Finnish Broadcasting Company to be amended in line with the European Media Freedom Act and the recommendations of the parliamentary working group

On 27 June 2025, the President of the Republic approved amendments to the Act on the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. The amendments will implement the legislative changes outlined by the parliamentary working group on Yle. They also incorporate the criteria and procedures for the appointment and dismissal of the management of public service media providers required by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The legislative amendments will enter into force on 8 August 2025.

The Act on Yle will be amended to reflect the working group’s recommendations regarding the transparency of Yle’s activities and finances, the monitoring of such transparency, Yle’s duties related to security of supply, and the number of members in Yle’s Administrative Council. The amendments will be implemented as outlined in the working group report.

The changes will increase obligations for Yle to publish information about its activities and finances to the public. The Administrative Council will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the transparency obligation and the efficient use of Yle’s financial resources.

Yle’s duties related to security of supply will be updated to reflect the current situation, in which Yle must be prepared to manage not only television and radio operations but also other broadcasting in emergency conditions.

Additions required by the EMFA aim to safeguard Yle’s editorial independence

The implementation of the EMFA will be carried out at a minimum level. The national act will be amended to include the criteria and procedures for the appointment and dismissal of Yle’s responsible editors as required by the EMFA. Other national legislation to supplement the EMFA will be addressed in a separate government proposal.

The selection of a responsible editor will be based on the individual’s experience in relation to the area of responsibility, editorial work and leadership of a journalistic organisation.

A responsible editor cannot be dismissed solely on the grounds of having exercised editorial independence, unless continuation in the role would be clearly unreasonable for the company. In other respects, the termination of a responsible editor’s employment will be governed by the Employment Contracts Act.

The amendment package also includes some technical amendments.

What’s next?

The legislative amendments will enter into force on 8 August 2025. The EMFA will be applied for the most part as of 8 August 2025. 

Inquiries:

Roosa Patrakka, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 534 2012, [email protected]
Eero Salojärvi, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 534 2123, [email protected]