The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) fully entered into force on 8 August 2025. However, in most EU member states EMFA is still far from being implemented. The European Federation of Journalists calls on all EU governments to fulfil their obligations and, without delay, carry out the necessary reforms so that EMFA becomes the long awaited shield protecting free and independent journalism in the European Union.
“This is a historic moment, for the first time there is a regulation dealing with the work of journalists, the protection of journalism, media pluralism, transparency and many other issues that we were never able to regulate at the European level before,” said EFJ Director Renate Schroeder. “This must also be viewed in the context of the EU’s ability to establish regulatory oversight over digital gatekeepers through the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act,” Schroeder added.
For more than two years, together with other media freedom organisations, the EFJ has been very active in securing an ambitious legal text. Despite limitations and legal uncertainties, this act represents a strong defence against unprecedented attacks on journalism, journalists and media professionals, provided that member states continue with ambitious implementation. Unfortunately, in Croatia we are witnessing a lack of political will and decisive steps in applying the European Media Freedom Act, something the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists has already warned about in its comments during the public consultation on EMFA implementation. Due to the obligation to implement EMFA provisions into the national system, the Croatian Government, more precisely the Ministry of Culture and Media, has submitted for public consultation a draft Act on the implementation of Regulation 2024/1083 that does not deliver the expected changes. Instead of reforming existing legislation, a separate law is proposed which, at its core, offers no solutions to the sector’s key problems but represents formal compliance with obligations without a genuine intention to address political and economic pressure, non transparent advertising, weak source protection, lack of regulatory independence and dramatically poor working conditions in the media. This avoids responsibility and delays urgently needed reform at a moment when the European framework has provided both the opportunity and the obligation to finally make a decisive shift in favour of the public interest.
For the first time, the European Media Freedom Act recognises protection of sources and protection against spyware (Article 4), the independence and financial sustainability of public service media (Article 5), the individual right to access a plurality of editorially independent media content (Article 3), as well as media pluralism and transparency of media ownership and state advertising. From now on, all articles apply even in the absence of national legislation, and journalists and other stakeholders can challenge any non compliance with the regulation before national and European courts.
“Member states must take EMFA seriously and transform it into genuine protection for journalists. The implementation process, which should already have been completed, must include all relevant stakeholders, including journalists, civil society and self regulatory organisations, as well as media professionals in a structured dialogue with the newly established Media Board so that it truly becomes meaningful and worthy of being called the European Media Freedom Act,” explained Renate Schroeder.
A special working group within the European Parliament will examine EMFA implementation and enforcement in the coming years. Sabine Verheyen, Vice President of the European Parliament and chief negotiator for EMFA, stated: “For the first time, EU law protects journalism from political interference, surveillance and abusive lawsuits. It requires real transparency and strengthens public media. This is a major step for journalism, for democracy and for everyone who believes in the right to know. Now comes the real work, ensuring that this law delivers on its promise.”
The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF), in cooperation with the EFJ, has organised a series of webinars on the articles most relevant to the journalistic and media freedom community. The webinars will continue in the autumn.
More can be read at the following links:
hcmpf.eui.eu/projects/observatory-on-the-european-media-freedom-act