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Tomorrow’s trilogue will be decisive to determine the final shape of most provisions of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). At this critical conjunction, we - the undersigned European organizations representing media outlets, journalists, and media workers - join together to call on you to protect legal editorial content from unjustified and arbitrary actions by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), which represent a transversal threat to the freedom of expression of the media and journalists.

As the technical discussions on the European Media Freedom Act are progressing, the undersigned organisations, representing tens of thousands of commercial media brands, newspapers, magazines, radio and broadcasters across the EU, would like to bring to your attention a key point for the viability of the media sector.

With the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the EU has set itself the noble goal of strengthening media freedom in the EU. But unless the proposed Article 4 is in line with international standards, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the final text could fall short of this original objective.

The European press publishers' associations EMMA and ENPA acknowledge today's vote in the European Parliament on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The core objective of EMMA and ENPA is to protect press and media freedom and pluralism in the EU and to promote an environment in which the free press can flourish and develop – both online and offline. In this respect, the European Parliament's report has brought improvements towards these goals. Nevertheless, several shortcomings remain that need to be addressed during the trilogue negotiations in order for the EMFA to effectively strengthen the media, to protect its freedom while avoiding unnecessarily interfering in functioning systems in Member States.

On 3 October, the European Parliament will vote on its position on the European Media Freedom Act. Ahead of the vote, the undersigned associations representing all actors in the media sector, both commercial and public media, ranging from press and radio to audiovisual media, would like to thank the rapporteur and shadows from the leading Culture and Education Committee (CULT) as well as from the associated LIBE and IMCO committees for all their work on this file.

Ahead of the European Parliament Plenary vote on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), EMMA and ENPA joined other media and journalists’ and media workers’ organisations in a call to maintain Article 17 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) in Plenary.

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EMMA and ENPA support the open letter from hundreds of European press publishers of all sizes, press titles and press associations from across Europe to send to EU Member States a clear and strong political message at a critical juncture in the negotiations on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

In light of today’s adoption of the Council’s negotiating mandate (“General Approach”) on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), EMMA and ENPA, representing the vast majority of European publishers, regret that Member States have chosen to endorse a rushed compromise that both oversteps EU competences under the treaties while lacking ambition when it comes to very large platforms’ and search engines’ interference with legal media content and on shielding media companies from political interference.

EMMA and ENPA take note of the adoption of the e-Evidence Regulation by the European Parliament during the current Plenary session. After working on this file directly as well as with a coalition with other media, journalists, and fundamental rights’ associations, we regret that the final text does not provide adequate guarantees of the protection of journalists, journalistic sources and editorial secrecy, which are preconditions of press freedom.

The European Newspaper Publishers‘ Association (ENPA) and the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA), which represent the national associations of publishers in the majority of Member States of the European Union would like to express their concern about the news that the government of the Czech Republic intends to increase the VAT rate on the sale of print from the current rate of 10% to 21% for dailies and 12% for magazines as part of measures to improve State finances. At the same time, however, the government wants to reduce the VAT rate for the sale of books to 0 %.

Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights

Ahead of the 2023 World Press Freedom Day, EMMA and ENPA joined other media, journalists and media workers organisations in calling for a stronger protection of journalists and journalistic sources in Article 4 of the proposed European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

European press publishers celebrate the ground-breaking work of women authors and creators on World Intellectual Property Day.

The arrest of Evan Gershkovich, journalist of the Wall Street Journal, in the Russian federation with accusations of espionage is a clear and unambiguous attack against the fundamental values of European democracies, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

In light of the published proposal of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), EMMA and ENPA note with dismay that the European Commission chose to move forward with a proposal that undermines core principles of press freedom, while not taken into consideration the fundamental concerns raised by press publishers.

With the publication of an undated draft proposal of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), EMMA and ENPA find themselves in the surprising and worrisome position to see that the European Commission plans to undermine the core of press freedom. We deeply regret this threat for press and media freedom and call on the Commission not to adopt the proposal in its upcoming meeting, as in its current version the draft is a “Media Unfreedom Act”, an affront to the core values of the European Union and democracy.

European press publishers represented by the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) are concerned that the lack of a robust fundamental rights safeguard in the the Digital Services Act adopted today by the European Parliament will have a worrisome impact on press freedom in an increasingly digital world. During the legislative process, we have repeatedly reiterated the need for the legal content of the free press to be protected against the arbitrary interference of the very large online platforms. Although the text attempted a reference to freedom of the press, this safeguard is insufficient.

European press publishers represented by the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) welcome today’s adoption of the Digital Markets Act in the European Parliament. The newly adopted obligations of fair and non-discriminatory access to the services of the gatekeeper’s search engines and social media and AppStores will help ascertain the unhindered access of the free press to the digital sphere. European press publishers reiterate the importance of a solid enforcement framework in establishing a successful and ambitious DMA.