Media freedom and pluralism

Media freedom and pluralism ensure the flow of information and play a key role in holding power to account. The Commission has stepped up its work in this area, placing media freedom at the heart of its rule of law reporting and continuing to fund a variety of projects bringing tangible results. The Commission has also planned key initiatives to enhance the work and safety of journalists and adopted an action plan geared at fostering a viable media ecosystem.

The European Union's commitments to respect media freedom and pluralism and to uphold freedom of expression - which includes the right to receive and impart information without interference by public authority - are enshrined in Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, which mirrors Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)

The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) entered into application across the European Union in August 2025. It builds on the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive. First proposed in September 2022, the EMFA aims to enhance the integrity of the internal market, and thus protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. A call for evidence and an open public consultation were held during the development of the European Media Freedom Act. The EMFA aims to:

• Protect editorial independence by requiring Member States to respect the effective editorial freedom of media service providers;
• Protect journalistic sources, including against the use of spyware.
• Ensure the independent functioning of public service media, including by guaranteeing adequate, sustainable and predictable financial resources and fostering transparency in appointing the Head or members of public service media management boards;
• Guarantee the transparency of media ownership through the disclosure by media service providers of specific information about themselves (e.g. legal names, contact details, ownership);
• Provide safeguards against the unwarranted removal by Very Large Online Platforms (designated under the Digital Services Act) of media content produced according to professional standards but deemed incompatible with terms and conditions;
• Introduce a right of customisation of the media offering on devices and interfaces, such as connected TVs, enabling users to change the default settings to reflect their own preferences;
• Ensure Member States provide an assessment of the impact of key media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence through media pluralism tests;
• Ensure more transparency on audience measurement for media service providers and advertisers, to limit the risk of inflated or biased audience data;
• Establish transparency requirements for the allocation of state advertising to media service providers and online platforms by public authorities and entities;
• Intensify and extend the cooperation and coordination between media regulators, including on measures concerning media services from outside the Union.

Other legislation and the rule of law

Strategic lawsuits against public participation, commonly known as ‘SLAPPs', are a particular form of harassment used primarily against journalists and human rights defenders to prevent or penalise speaking up on issues of public interest. The Directive on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) has entered into force in May 2024 providing courts and targets of SLAPPs with the tools to fight back against manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings. The safeguards apply in civil matters with cross-border implications.

In November 2025, the Commission presented the European Democracy Shield, an overarching strategy to protect and empower our democracies. The Shield includes new measures to safeguard integrity in the information space, protect free and fair elections and media, and boost societal resilience and media literacy. The Democracy Shield is part of a broader, evolving EU approach to democracy protection. Earlier initiatives laid important foundations for today’s framework. The European Democracy Action Plan established a comprehensive framework to protect the journalists, promote free and fair elections, strengthen media freedom, counter disinformation and encourage citizen engagement.

When it comes to the protection of media professionals and journalists, the Commission is working on an update of its Recommendation on the safety of journalists to strengthen safeguards against undue pressure, threats and attacks.

The Rule of Law Mechanism dedicates a key section to media freedom and pluralism, which examines media regulatory authorities and bodies, the transparency of media ownership and government interference and the framework for the protection of journalists. Launched in 2020, the Rule of Law Report presents a synthesis of both the rule of law situation in the EU and an assessment of the situation in each Member State, focusing on four main pillars: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism, and other institutional checks and balances. Since 2024, the Rule of Law Report also looks at relevant developments in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

In 2026, the seventh annual Rule of Law Report highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges in the media landscape across Member States. The report acknowledged the concrete steps taken by several Member States to strengthen the independent functioning and financing of public service media and to improve fairness and transparency in the allocation of state advertising. Additionally, in some Member States, increased attention is being given to the safety and protection of journalists amidst continuing threats. Despite these advancements, further action is needed in some Member States to address these issues, as well as to enhance the independence of media regulators and to increase transparency of media ownership.

The great power held by the largest online platforms justifies considering specific ex-ante rules to safeguard competition and consumer choice online. The Digital Services Act (DSA) significantly improves the mechanisms for the removal of illegal content and the effective protection of users’ fundamental rights online, including freedom of speech.

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the European Media Freedom Act strengthen legal safeguards in several areas covered by the Rule of Law reports or the Media Pluralism Monitor, including the independence of media regulators, transparency of media ownership, state advertising, public service media and media literacy.

The EU legislature adopted rules for a fairer marketplace with Article 17 of the Copyright Directive. These rules aim at helping right holders to be better placed regarding certain online sharing platforms. They ensure right holders receive a fairer remuneration for the use of their content. As to the right for press publishers (Article 15 of the Copyright Directive), this will foster plural, independent and quality journalism through a better bargaining position of press publishers towards online market players.

Funding and support measures

The EU funds several projects that promote a free, diverse and pluralistic media environment and/or address structural challenges of media sectors.

The Commission has also put forward a series of measures to support the economy and has called on Member States to make the most of them to support the media sector.

• A temporary state aid framework was rapidly put in place and extended. A dedicated state aid guiding template for the digitalisation of news media was also published to assist Member States in the design of their national recovery and resilience plans.
• REACT-EU financial support focuses additional cohesion funds on small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) vital priorities, or creative SMEs in the cultural sector recognised as a priority. These funds include employment subsidies, short-term work schemes, and liquidity and solvency for SMEs.  
• The temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) is an instrument available for Member States to fight the adverse economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Existing tools have been adapted, including more flexibility in implementing the supported projects. For example, the existing guarantee facility for SMEs in the cultural and creative sectors, including media, allows for more flexibility in repayments of loans and facilitates lending by giving more security to the financial institutions.
• The Commission adopted an action plan to support the recovery and transformation of the media and audio-visual sector. These sectors, particularly hit by the coronavirus crisis, are essential for democracy, and Europe's cultural diversity and digital autonomy. The action plan focuses on 3 areas of activity and 10 concrete actions. These will help the media sector recover from the crisis by facilitating and broadening access to finance. They will also help the media sector transform by stimulating investments to embrace the twin digital and green transitions while ensuring the sector's future resilience. Finally, they will empower European citizens and companies.

Timeline of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)

•  

  16 September 2022

  • Commission adopts EMFA proposal
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  March 2024

  • European Parliament and Council adoption
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  7 May 2024

  • EMFA enters into force 
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  8 November 2024

  • Right to media plurality provision becomes applicable
     
•  

  8 February 2025

  • Entry into application of 
    • Media service providers' right to internal market economic activity without restrictions
    • Duties of media service providers providing news and current affairs content regarding independence of editorial decisions
    • Amendments to AVMSD
    • Independent media regulators and Board provisions
•  

  8 May 2025

  • Regulatory cooperation provision becomes applicable
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  8 August 2025 

  • Entry into application of:
    • Protection of journalists and media professionals against measures from Member States 
    • Public service media independence safeguards
    • Media ownership transparency
    • Media content on VLOPs
    • Requirements for national measures affecting media service providers
    • Media market concentrations assessments and opinions
    • Audience measurement
    • State advertising 
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  8 May 2027

  • Customisation of media offerings becomes applicable