Open Letter: EU must ensure European Media Freedom Act protects media independence and plurality

We, the undersigned journalists, press freedom, civil society, trade unions and digital rights groups, are writing to you to reiterate our full support for a strengthened and timely European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

We, the undersigned journalists, press freedom, civil society, trade unions and digital
rights groups, are writing to you to reiterate our full support for a strengthened and timely
European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

Many journalists around the EU find themselves in increasingly captured media markets, where
independent voices are sidelined by economic pressure. Journalists and media outlets struggle
for financial viability and critical media are often discriminated against by (illiberal) politicians
blocking access to sustainable financial resources. Others are coerced to report a certain official
narrative because of political pressure. Politically-influenced media takeovers create an
environment where critical reporters are in the minority.

Media freedom and pluralism is the precondition of stable democracy and the rule of law.
Independent media helps to form public opinion and has a direct influence on the outcome of
elections.

The EMFA seeks to protect media independence by drawing up common European standards
on freedom from editorial interference and illegal surveillance, guaranteeing media pluralism,
providing greater transparency on ownership and financial relations with the state, ending the
abuse of state funds to create clientalist media, protecting the independence of public service
media and the independence of national regulatory authorities and ensuring there is an
economic environment in which independent journalism can flourish.

These are crucial issues and we call on Members of the European Parliament to engage
constructively in this vital debate to ensure that the EMFA becomes a strong, coherent
regulation establishing harmonised legal safeguards across Europe.


Signed:
Access Now
aditus foundation
ARTICLE 19
Association of European Journalists (AEJ Belgium)
Association of European Journalists
Association of online publishers, CZ (AOV)
Centre for Democracy & Technology, Europe Office
Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties)
Civil Rights Defenders
Civil Society Europe
Citizens Network Watchdog Poland
Coalition for Creativity (C4C)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
DEMAS – Association for Democracy Assistance and Human Rights
Eurocadres
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)
European Public Service Union (EPSU)
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Free Press Unlimited (Netherlands)
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
Global Media Registry (GMR)
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR, Warsaw)
Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF)
Human Rights Monitoring Institute
Human Rights Watch
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)
Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw
International Federation of Musicians (FIM)
International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)
International Press Institute (ipi)
Internet Society – Bulgaria (ISOC-Bulgaria)
Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
Media Diversity Institute (MDI)
Novinářský klub Jindřicha Oppera, z.s. (Henry Opper´s club of journalists)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
Ossigeno.info
Poland’s Association of Journalists and Authors of the Public Radio, Warsaw
Peace Institute, Ljubljana
Public Media Alliance (PMA)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Repubblika
Society of Journalists, Warsaw
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Sindikat novinarjev Slovenije
Transparency International EU
UNI Europa (The European Services Workers Union)
Wikimedia Europe
Wikimédia France