What is EMFA and why is it so important?
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is a regulation that aims to protect media freedom and media pluralism, which are two of the main pillars of democracy. For this purpose, the EMFA contains important principles and rules on freedom of expression, media pluralism, independence of public service media, protection of journalists, independence of media regulators, and other detailed rules which need to be implemented consistently across the EU. The EMFA entered into force the 7th of May of 2024, although most of its provisions are applicable from the 8th of August 2025.
What is the Media Board?
The European Board for Media Services, or Media Board, is an independent advisory body established by the EMFA. It is composed of representatives from national regulatory authorities of the media and audiovisual sectors and succeeds the work of the former European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA).
The Media Board's main goal is to promote the effective and consistent application of EU media law, including the EMFA and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Its remit covers all media sectors, including audiovisual media, the press, radio, vloggers and online platforms, reflecting the evolving nature of the media landscape.
Its inaugural plenary meeting took place on the 10 February 2025.
What is the role of the Media Board?
The Media Board acts as a guardian in the defence of democracy and the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. It supports and advises, also through technical expertise, the European Commission on media-related matters, promotes cooperation among national regulators, and helps ensuring that EU media rules are applied consistently. With its independent status and broad mandate under AVMSD and the EMFA, the Board is well placed to contribute to a free, pluralistic, trustworthy and competitive media environment in Europe.
The Statement of Purpose outlines this broad vision of the Media Board, along with its long-term ambition and values, presents the concrete missions of the Media Board and explains its operating principles.
What is the role on the Media Board concerning the audiovisual sector?
The Media Board supports the consistent implementation of the AVMSD. This Directive establishes a common set of minimum rules for audiovisual media services and video-sharing platforms.
To achieve this, the Media Board provides the European Commission with independent, professional and evidence-based advice, promotes the exchange of best practices among national regulators, and facilitates cooperation on key regulatory issues.
In 2025, the Media Board is focusing on several audiovisual media priority areas:
- the promotion of European works,
- the protection of minors,
- vloggers and influencers,
- media literacy, and
- the prominence of services of general interest.
How does the Media Board work?
The Media Board brings together representatives from the independent national regulatory authorities for media and audiovisual services. In 2025, the Media Board is chaired by Carlos Aguilar (CNMC, Spain).
Its main decision-making forum is the Plenary, which meets at least twice a year to adopt the deliverables set out in the annual Work Programme of the Media Board and discuss key matters of its competence. To ensure transparency and allow public access to its activities, the Media Board publishes the Plenary meeting agendas, minutes and most of its deliverables on its website.
The Vice-Chair supports the Chair in fulfilling its tasks. In 2025, the Vice-Chair is Amma Asante (CvdM, Netherlands). Additionally, the Media Board has established a Steering Group composed of the Media Board Chair and Vice-chair, the chairs of the Working groups as well as three ‘other elected members’ -currently the authorities of Portugal (ERC), Sweden (Mediemyndigheten) and Austria (KommAustria)-. The Steering Group supports the Chair and Vice-chair in their tasks and follow-up on the key issues.
The work of the Media Board is governed by its Rules of Procedure, which provide the framework for its operations and decision-making processes.
Which are the key priorities of the Media Board for 2025?
The 2025 Work Programme outlines the Media Board’s priorities for the year and defines a working structure to help achieve the objectives set out under the EMFA. The priorities for 2025 are fully aligned with the 2025-2027 Multiannual Strategy, adopted by the Media Board in April 2025.
To carry out this work, the Media Board has created six Working groups:
- WG1: Audiovisual media matters, chaired by CSA (BE)
- WG2: Pluralism and media markets, chaired by Arcom (FR)
- WG3: Media business environment, chaired by AGCOM (IT)
- WG4: Evolution of the regulatory framework, chaired by DLM (DE)
- WG5: Integrity of the information space, chaired by CMS (SK)
- WG6: Internal and external cooperation, chaired by CnaM (IE)
How does the Media Board ensure its independence?
The Media Board operates free from any political or commercial influence. In line with EMFA, does not take instructions from any government, public authority, or private entity, whether at national or at EU level.
The strength of the Media Board lies in the impartiality and professional expertise of its members. These are representatives from national authorities who bring their experience to the European level while continuing to operate within their respective national legal frameworks.
How does the Media Board help ensure media freedom and pluralism?
The Media Board plays a central role in protecting media freedom and pluralism in the EU’s media sector. To carry out this mission, the EMFA provides the Media Board with several concrete tools:
- Stronger cooperation mechanisms for national regulators, allowing them to tackle cross-border issues more effectively, for example, in situations where media services from non-EU countries may pose risks to public security.
- The power to issue opinions on national measures that raise concerns, particularly in serious cases that may affect the media freedom and/or the editorial independence and impact the internal market.
- A dedicated role to protect pluralism and editorial independence in the context of media market concentrations, by issuing opinions flagging these risks.
- The exchange of best practices in areas such as audience measurement which plays a key role in ensuring fair access to advertising revenue and improving media financial sustainability.
- Foster cooperation on harmonised standards related to the design of devices or to the digital signals transmitted by such devices.
How is the cooperation between national authorities structured in specific cross-border cases?
Strong cooperation among independent national media regulators is essential for the effective implementation of EU media rules. Building on the achievements of the ERGA Memorandum of Understanding, the EMFA introduces several mechanisms designed to strengthen collaboration between national regulators.
These include:
- Structured cooperation between national regulatory authorities, including an accelerated procedure to address urgent cross-border cases.
- Requests for enforcement when video-sharing platform providers established in other Member States fail to comply with their legal obligations.
- A dedicated coordination mechanism for national measures concerning media services from outside the EU, particularly when they may pose risks to public security.
What role do stakeholders play in the work of the Media Board?
From the beginning, the Media Board has made stakeholder engagement a core part of its approach. As a milestone in this path of cooperation, in 2025, it launched an open consultation on three key documents: the Statement of Purpose, the 2025-2027 Multiannual Strategy, and the draft 2025 Work Programme, which received strong and constructive feedback from a wide range of media stakeholders.
This ongoing exchange helps to ensure that the Media Board’s actions are informed, balanced, and aligned with the realities of the media landscape.
How does the Media Board help fight disinformation?
The Media Board plays a dedicated role in helping to tackle disinformation, particularly in cases involving foreign interference. One of its key tasks is to coordinate national responses to media services established outside the EU, when those services target European audiences and may pose risks to the public security.
In addition, the Media Board contributes to the oversight of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation through its active participation in the Code’s Taskforce. The Code is a pioneering framework that aims at combating disinformation risks in the EU. This ongoing involvement reinforces the Media Board’s commitment to promoting a trustworthy and secure information space in the EU.
How can the Media Board help protect media service providers on online platforms?
The Media Board plays an important role in ensuring that media service providers are treated fairly and transparently by very large online platforms, such as major social media or video-sharing platforms.
If a media service provider faces repeated and unjustified restrictions or suspensions of its content by a very large online platform—and following a dialogue between both parties—the media service provider may request the Media Board to issue an opinion on the outcome of these discussions. This mechanism provides an additional layer of protection and accountability, reinforcing fairness in the online media environment.
What is the role of the Media Board concerning the protection of journalists?
The EMFA strengthens the protection of editorial independence by shielding editorial decisions from undue interference. The protection of journalists is guaranteed by introducing strong measures to protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources and confidential communications. It also sets clear limits on the use of intrusive surveillance tools by prohibiting their use against journalists, except in strictly defined exceptional circumstances to be supervised by national Courts of Justice. However, the Media Board has no competences regarding these journalistic safeguards.
Is the Media Board responsible for the oversight of the press?
No, although the EMFA applies to all media sectors, including the press, the Media Board does not have competences to supervise or regulate its activity.
To ensure that the press can make its voice heard, the EMFA includes mechanisms involving media stakeholders in relevant discussions. When the Media Board deals with matters that may affect the press, or other sectors beyond audiovisual media, it is required to involve representatives of the relevant media sectors, both at national and EU level. These may include, for instance, press councils and journalistic associations.