EU policymakers and commercial radio leaders gather at the European Parliament to discuss radio’s future in the digital age.
MEPs and the radio sector representatives called for amending the DNA to maintain the availability of broadcast radio in vehicles.
Direct access in vehicles to both analogue and digital terrestrial broadcast radio, without intermediaries, reduces the risk of information being blocked or diverted.
On 9 September 2026, the Association of European Radios and the European Broadcasting Union held a policy breakfast at the European Parliament on why cars need broadcast radio. Co-hosted by MEPs Hélder Sousa Silva, Sunčana Glavak and Alex Agius Saliba, this event highlighted the essential role that radio plays for people and called for the Digital Networks Act to preserve the presence of analogue and digital broadcast radio in all vehicles.
Sibyle Veil, CEO, Radio France and Radio Committee Chair, EBU, stated, “Radio is a pillar of our information and cultural sovereignty. It is the primary source of information in times of crisis when everything else fails. As the European Union shapes its digital future, it must also safeguard FM and DAB+ broadcasting, which remains operational when it matters most. The Digital Networks Act must therefore guarantee radio’s place in all vehicles, so that every citizen can continue to receive information and alerts, whatever the circumstances.”
Stefan Möller, RadioMedia Finland CEO and AER President added “Radio in the car is not about protecting old technology. It is about protecting people’s freedom to choose and their direct access to a medium they know and trust. Digitalisation should give Europeans more choice, not less. That is why FM and DAB+ must remain available in all vehicles.”
Benjamin Poor, EBU, and Christian Schalt, RTL, presented on the power of broadcast radio and why legislation is pressing: some car manufacturers are starting to test entry-level models without broadcast radio included.
MEPs and the radio sector representatives called for amending the DNA to maintain the availability of broadcast radio in vehicles. Direct access in vehicles to both analogue and digital terrestrial broadcast radio, without intermediaries, reduces the risk of information being blocked or diverted. These principles must inform the upcoming European Parliament debates and votes on the DNA in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, Civil Liberties and Fundamental Rights Committee and the Industry, Research and Energy Committee.
This call is supported by
MEP Sunčana Glavak (EPP, HR)
MEP Hélder Sousa Silva (EPP, PT)
MEP Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT)
Association of European Radios (AER)
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Photos from the roundtable are available here. @Javier Bernal Revert.
About AER: AER – the Association of European Radios, is the voice of commercial radios in Brussels.
For more information, please contact: francesca.fabbri(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aereurope.org