Media Board welcomes the EU Commission’s guidelines under Article 18 of the EMFA

The Media Board welcomes the European Commission’s guidelines under Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), an important step forward for the protection of editorial content that complies with journalistic and professional standards online.

The guidelines provide guidance on the setting up and operation of the declaration functionality, which providers of very large online platforms (VLOPs) are required to put in place under Article 18. Since the declaration functionality is a key condition of the EMFA for media service providers’ ability to benefit from its safeguards, the guidelines are expected to meaningfully contribute to giving effect to the relevant set of protections foreseen in Article 18. The Media Board calls the providers of VLOPs to implement the self-declaration functionality as soon as possible and in compliance with the guidelines in order to ensure swift and effective implementation of article 18.

The Regulation enables media service providers to declare that they meet the conditions outlined in Article 18(1) and thereby access the protections offered by the EMFA. It aims to ensure that journalism adhering to professional standards has a protected space in the online sphere.

Amma Asante, chair of the Media Board, stated: “Article 18 is a key provision in the EMFA for protecting freedom of expression and media pluralism online. It shields independent, editorially responsible media from arbitrary or opaque content moderation on large platforms by guaranteeing prior notice, rapid reply, and a fair dialogue. The European Commission’s guidelines on the article’s application will further contribute to greater transparency, accountability, and citizens’ access to diverse, reliable information, preventing private gatekeepers from unduly restricting the public discourse.”

The Media Board expects that providers of VLOPs will comply with the guidelines, and encourages media service providers to actively test the functionalities made available under this framework, in accordance with the EMFA, contributing to their effective and consistent implementation.

Media Boards exchange with stakeholders

In March 2026, the Media Board engaged with relevant stakeholders to discuss their initial experience with the guidelines. The exchange focused on:

• stakeholder engagement with the guidelines,
• contacts with national regulatory authorities,
• issues requiring clarification,
• risks linked to divergent interpretations,
• possible actions the Media Board could take to support consistent and effective implementation, highlighting the importance of a consistent application of Article 18 across platforms.

The Media Board also recalls that its opinions under Article 18(6) come at a later stage of the dispute settlement process. Media service providers should therefore first submit a declaration pursuant to Article 18(1), exercise their rights through the VLOPs mechanisms available for complaint-handling, such as mechanisms available under the Digital Services Act (DSA), in particular Articles 17, 20 and 21, and engage in a dialogue with the provider of the VLOP. A media service provider may notify the Media Board of the dialogue's outcome and request a formal opinion in case there is no amicable resolution. The modalities for requesting an opinion of the Media Board are available on this page.

Continued dialogue on Article 18 of the EMFA

In line with its work programme for 2026, in the autumn the Media Board will organise a structured dialogue, as referred to in Article 19 of the EMFA, with providers of VLOPs, media service providers and civil society representatives. The dialogue will focus on gathering feedback on the practical application guidelines and of Article 18 of the EMFA, in general. In preparation, the Media Board will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to collect input and practical experiences.