EBU urges new College of EU Commissioners to prioritize independent media landscape

The European Broadcasting Union (UER) welcomes the new College of EU Commissioners, chaired by Ursula von der Leyen, but stresses that strong and independent media, both online and offline, must remain a central objective.

The EBU has welcomed the EU's commitment to implement the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and safeguard the freedom and pluralism of the media as pillars of the rule of law. Furthermore, it urges Commissioners to also prioritize policy approaches that protect and sustain the media and boost citizens' trust in key areas such as generative artificial intelligence and digital technology and connectivity.

"The newly confirmed College of Commissioners reflects the challenges that arose during the previous mandate. It represents a change in tone, and we are ready to support and collaborate with policy makers to sustain Europe's independent and pluralist media sector," he declared. Wouter Gekiere, head of the EBU Brussels Office. "Media freedom is non-negotiable: it is the cornerstone of our common values. We urge the new College of Commissioners to adopt measures that strengthen, rather than undermine, the ability of public service media to provide citizens with reliable and independent content."

The EBU stresses that efforts to reduce bureaucracy and simplify legislation must not jeopardize the strong application and compliance of current digital regulations, such as the Digital Services Law and the Digital Markets Law. Furthermore, current or future initiatives that address unresolved issues in the digital environment should not be left aside.

He Shield of Democracya is another promising initiative that could strengthen the fight against disinformation, promote citizens' access to reliable information, counter threats to media freedom and support independent media alongside the effective implementation of EMFA.

As new policies are developed, the EBU calls for robust mechanisms to ensure that the European media landscape remains free from undue influence, whether from governments or online platforms. This is particularly urgent given the growing challenges of misinformation and social polarization. Public service media are uniquely positioned to serve as reliable sources of information and cultural enrichment for all Europeans. Therefore, ensuring people's ability to easily find or discover the media that matters most to them, whether on the home screen of a connected TV or in the car, must remain a key priority for decision makers.