The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) has started its full operation since August 8th 2025. The regulation which has the force of a law puts in place a new set of rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. They will ensure that public and private media can function more freely within the internal market, without undue pressure and driving the digital transformation of the public space.
The most important provisions of the European Media Freedom Act will protect key principles of media activities such as editorial independence, journalistic sources, including against the use of spyware, independent functioning of public service media, transparency of media ownership and transparency in state advertising for media service providers and online platforms.
The new European act formulates safeguards against unjustified online content removal by very large online platforms, introduces a right of customisation of the media offer on devices and interfaces and ensures Member States provide an assessment of the impact of key media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence. It will be also an effective tool for strengthening fair audience measurement for media service providers and advertisers.
A new independent European Board for Media Services, composed of representatives from the national media authorities or bodies and assisted by a Commission secretariat, will replace the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) that was established under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive to promote the consistent application of the EU media law framework.
Despite its complexity and tier structure which will inevitably engender difficulties in application the European Media Freedom Act brings benefits for journalists and other media professionals and for the media organizations as well because it reinforces fundamental postulates of free media and journalistic work and secures guarantees against undue interference and curtailment.