Finland publishes its reply to European Commission on Sanoma’s complaint concerning YLE

On 28 June 2021, the state of Finland received a permission to publish its whole reply to the European Commission on Sanoma Media Finland Ltd's complaint concerning the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. Until now, a summary of the reply has been made available to the public.

Due to EU legislation, correspondence with the Commission is, as a rule, confidential. On 3 June, Finland proposed to the European Commission that correspondence relating to the complaint be public. So far, the Commission has agreed that Sanoma Media Finland's complaint, the Commission's request for a reply and Finland's reply to the Commission can be published.

The complaint submitted by Sanoma Media Finland Ltd to the European Commission concerns, in particular, the video-on-demand services and electronic learning content of YLE. Currently, YLE produces video-on-demand services and provides them in Yle Areena. In the complainant's view, the services do not comply with EU state aid legislation.

According to the reply submitted by the state of Finland, the video-on-demand services and electronic learning contents are in accordance with the Act on the Finnish Broadcasting Company Ltd and the EU state aid legislation. For this reason, Sanoma's complaint is, according to the reply, unfounded.

What next?

The EU Commission will assess, whether Finland's replies are sufficient and will decide, whether any additional information should be requested from Finland. The processing of state aid matters in the EU may take several years and include many rounds of communication.

Inquiries

Sini Wirén, Director of Unit, tel. +358 40 507 0916

Anna Wennäkoski, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 475 5649