The Media Board holds first joint meeting with the DSA Board and reviews first-half 2026 progress at its fifth Plenary Meeting

In the first half of 2026, the Media Board adopted its first opinions on media market concentrations and national measures, as well as its first opinion under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Furthermore, the Board submitted its input to the European Commission’s evaluation of the AVMSD and prepared a common supervisory action for the protection of minors online. On 2 July 2026, the Media Board held its fifth Plenary Meeting in Brussels under the chairmanship of Amma Asante (CvdM, Netherlands), reviewing the results achieved in the first half of 2026 and to set priorities for the year ahead. This was preceded by the Media Board’s first joint meeting with the European Board for Digital Services. 

The European Board for Digital Services (the “DSA Board”) and the European Board for Media Services (the “Media Board”) held their first joint meeting, marking a significant step in strengthening cooperation between the two Boards. The meeting brought together representatives from national DSCs and national Media Regulatory Authorities. They discussed the protection of minors online and the safeguarding of media freedom and pluralism under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), and the interplay of these acts. The two Boards also exchanged views on their current cooperation and coordination and explored how to further enhance that cooperation and coordination.

Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Media Board

The fifth Plenary Meeting of the Media Board brought together representatives from the national regulatory authorities. The Chair opened the meeting with an update on the progress made in implementing the Media Board’s 2026 Work Programme. Then, Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General at DG CNECT of the European Commission provided an update on recent developments and the Commission’s priorities for the coming months.

Update of the Working Groups

Much of the Media Board’s substantive work is carried out within its four different Working Groups (WGs), which bring together expertise from NRAs across the EU to work on the common deliverables of the Board. During the meeting, members reviewed the progress achieved by the WGs in the first half of 2026 and discussed priorities for the remainder of the year.

The Board has been actively contributing to the ongoing evaluation and review of the AVMSD and supporting the consistent and effective application of the EMFA on topics such as media market concentrations and safeguards for the content of media service providers on very large online platforms (VLOPs). Furthermore, the organisation of the first structured dialogue was discussed, which the Board will organise between representatives of media service providers, VLOPs and civil society in the second half of 2026.

At the Plenary, members also agreed on practical arrangements to support the cross-border cooperation mechanisms set out in EMFA and on the publication of a public statement on the proposed concentration between Groupe Rossel and IPM in Belgium.