The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) published on its website a first commentary and evaluation of the EU Regulation known as the European Media Freedom Act. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) entered into force on 7 May 2024 and its provisions will fully apply at national level in each EU member state as of 8 August 2025.

The EFJ welcomes the EMFA, “even though the final Act is not as ambitious as advocated for and some provisions may lack legal certainty and clarity”. The EFJ considers the EMFA as “a very important new European legislation. With its high symbolic value for journalists and media in the EU, it can contribute to protect journalists and media from undue political as well as economical influence”. The EFJ says to have waited 30 years for such a European Media Law, while now “the real test lies with how this act will be implemented and enforced in the EU Member States”.

The EFJ comment focusses on some specific issues included in the EMFA, such as the independence of Public Service Media, the transparency of media ownership and the editorial independance of journalists. We have contributed to the analysis of the protection of journalistic sources (Art. 4 EMFA).

See at https://bhnovinari.ba/en/2024/06/19/european-media-freedom-act-emfa-what-does-it-mean-for-journalists/