Council of the EU adopts European Media Freedom Act

The Council of the European Union adopted the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) on 26 March 2024. The EMFA will change the way media is regulated.

The purpose of the European Media Freedom Act is to safeguard media freedom, media pluralism and editorial independence. It will establish a common framework for media services in the EU’s single market.

The EMFA has provisions on the transparency obligations for media service providers, on public service media providers, on the editorial content of very large online platforms and on the transparency of state advertising.

In addition, the EMFA imposes obligations on the assessment of media market concentrations on media pluralism and diversity. It also introduces measures to protect journalists and their sources from political interference in editorial decisions. 

The new rules will guarantee the right of citizens to access free and plural information and define the responsibility of Member States to provide the appropriate conditions and framework to protect it. The EMFA is part of the EU’s efforts to promote democratic participation, counter disinformation and support media freedom and pluralism.

During the negotiations, Finland supported the objectives of the proposed Act to promote media freedom and the functioning of the media market within the EU.

The European Parliament and the Council, representing the Member States, reached a political agreement on the European Commission’s proposal for a European Media Freedom Act on 15 December 2023. The Council of the European Union adopted the Act on 26 March 2024.

What’s next? 

The European Media Freedom Act will be published in the EU’s Official Journal. It will enter into force 15 months later, as a rule. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for the national implementation of the EMFA.

Inquiries: 

Eero Salojärvi, Director of Unit, eero.salojarvi(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 295 342 123
Roosa Patrakka, Senior Officer, roosa.patrakka(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 295 342 192