Commission welcomes the new European Media Services Committee

The European Media Services Committee — created by the European Regulation on the Freedom of the Media — is an independent advisory body at Union level composed of representatives of the national media regulators, who will replace and continue the work of the Group of European Regulators for Audiovisual Communication Services.

As such, the Committee will promote the coherent implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, while providing expertise and assistance to the Commission on media regulation.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “I cele the establishment of the new European Media Services Committee and I expect much from our cooperation on media regulation, for an effective implementation of the European Regulation on Freedom of the Media and to ensure that the EU’s media – whether traditional or digital – are independent and plural.”

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, commented: “This day is a fundamental step in the implementation of the European Regulation on Freedom of the Media. We trust in the crucial work of the new European Media Services Committee to support the independent operation of media providers, a prerequisite for the high-quality services that Europeans deserve.”

The Committee will carry out new functions under the European Regulation on the freedom of the media. It will issue opinions on national measures that could significantly affect the functioning of media providers, on concentrations in the media market and on common measures to protect the internal market of non-EU media providers that pose threats to public security, for example, with regard to information manipulation and interference by foreign actors. These new tasks will help to reduce barriers to the provision of media services across the EU and to safeguard pluralism and media independence in the internal market.

In addition, a media service provider may request the opinion of the Committee in relation to the outcome of the dialogue concerning repeated unjustified restrictions or suspension of the media provider’s content on the basis of the terms of service in the case of very large online platforms designated under the Digital Services Act. The European Media Services Committee shall inform the Commission of its opinion.

During the meeting, the Committee elected Carlos Aguilar Paredes as chairman and Amma Asante as vice-president (of the national media regulator of Spain and the Netherlands, respectively).

More information European Commission.