The Media Board stands ready to uphold the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act

On 11 April 2025, the European Board for Media Services (the “Media Board”) held its second Plenary Meeting in Brussels, marking a major step forward in its institutional consolidation and operational set-up. With this plenary, the Media Board has fully transitioned from its predecessor ERGA and is now operational as an independent advisory body under the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), ready to support the consistent and effective implementation of EU media law.

At the meeting, which brought together representatives of the 27 EU national regulatory authorities under the chairmanship of Carlos Aguilar (CNMC, Spain), the Media Board adopted several core documents that will guide its work in the years ahead:

• The Rules of Procedure, formally consulted with the European Commission and laying the foundation for the Board’s internal governance.
• The Statement of Purpose and Multiannual Strategy (2025–2027), shaped by input from a public consultation to which 31 stakeholders responded.
• The 2025 Work Programme, reflecting feedback from 46 stakeholder contributions gathered through an open consultation process and setting out the Board’s priorities for the year.

In line with the Transition Plan, the Plenary also proceeded with the official designation of the Steering Group, which includes the Chair and Vice-Chair (appointed at the Constitutive Plenary on 10 February 2025), six Working Group Chairs and three other elected members. This governance structure is now fully operational and composed of:

• Chair, Carlos Aguilar (CNMC, Spain).
• Vice-Chair, Amma Asante (CvdM, Netherlands).
• WG1 Chair, Karim Ibourki (CSA, Belgium).
• WG2 Chair, Frédéric Bokobza (ARCOM, France).
• WG3 Chair, Giacomo Lasorella (AGCOM, Italy).
• WG4 Chair, Tobias Schmid (DLM, Germany).
• WG5 Chair, Stanislav Matejka (CMS, Slovakia).
• WG6 Chair, Aoife MacEvilly (CnaM, Ireland).
• Other elected member, Helena Sousa (ERC, Portugal).
• Other elected member, Jan-Olof Lind (Mediemyndigheten, Sweeden).
• Other elected member, Susanne Lackner (KommAustria, Austria).

The meeting approved the Terms of Reference for all six Working Groups, which will lead the Board’s wide-ranging and ambitious work. This is a particularly important year, as it marks the first year of implementation of the EMFA. A significant part of the Media Board’s work in 2025 is therefore dedicated to ensuring that both the Board and national regulatory authorities are fully equipped to assume their new responsibilities under the Regulation in areas such as media market concentrations, audience measurement, coordination of measures concerning media services from outside of the Union and structured cooperation, among others. 

At the same time, this focus does not preclude continued attention to other key areas, notably the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), which remains highly relevant in view of its ongoing evaluation, the evolution of the related legal framework, the integrity of the information space, the external cooperation and the protection of minors, where the Media Board continues to be engaged. 

“At today’s Plenary, - stated Carlos Aguilar, Chair of the Media Board - the European Board for Media Services enters a new operational phase, reaffirming its strong commitment to upholding media freedom, pluralism, and editorial independence. In the face of growing challenges to democratic discourse, the Media Board stands ready to serve as a strong and independent voice, working to ensure that the principles of the European Media Freedom Act are fully and consistently upheld across the Union”.