Media freedom and pluralism in the digital environment

Media freedom and pluralism (i.e. a diversity of views) are central to the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights, and vital in ensuring transparency and accountability in a democracy. EU governments have adopted conclusions aimed at addressing the challenges posed to these core values in the digital age.

ACT

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on media freedom and pluralism in the digital environment [Official Journal C 32 of 4.2.2014].

SUMMARY

A number of challenges to media freedom and pluralism have been noted over the last years in the European Union. This matter is also important to EU governments, whose credibility in international negotiations relies on a high level of freedom of the media.

While the digital age can bring enhanced freedom of expression and can invite a diversity of opinions, new challenges arise in the way people access and assess information. Noting various recent instances where media freedom and pluralism have come under attack, as evidenced in court cases, official enquiries and parliamentary debates, EU governments, acknowledging the important work of the Council of Europe, adopted conclusions on the subject in November 2013.

EU Member States agreed to take measures to:

• ensure the independence of their audiovisual regulatory authorities, in accordance with the EU's audiovisual media services directive, which is the EU's regulatory framework for audiovisual media services;
• ensure genuine transparency of media ownership;
• safeguard the right of journalists to protect their sources and to protect journalists from undue political and economic influence;
• prevent possible negative effects of excessive concentration of media ownership, depending on their national context.

Welcoming its Green Paper Preparing for a fully converged audiovisual world, EU governments invited the European Commission to:

• continue supporting projects aimed at improving the protection of journalists and media practitioners;
• continue to support the independent Media Pluralism Monitor, a tool for assessing risks to media pluralism in the EU;
• encourage cooperation between Member States' audiovisual regulatory authorities and promote best practice with regard to the transparency of media ownership.

RELATED ACTS

Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (audiovisual media services directive) (Official Journal L 95 of 15.4.2010).

European Commission Green Paper Preparing for a fully converged Audiovisual world: growth, creation and values (COM(2013) 231 final of 24.4.2013 - not published in the Official Journal).

Last updated: 25.07.2014