On December 15th, 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
We, at AER, support the main objectives of the EMFA to promote the independence and pluralism of media in Europe. In order to do so, it should not forget the essential public value role of radio, providing millions of European citizens with trusted and reliable information, companionship and entertainment daily.
We hope discoverability and findability will be embraced as core objectives in the final text of EMFA (in particular in its article 19), so listeners will be able to find, choose and engage with content that is otherwise difficult to access and find.
Stefan Möller, President of the AER, said: “the EMFA is a crucial opportunity to enshrine in legislation the support that EU lawmakers recognize is necessary to secure the future of radio and ensure a level playing field between the tech platforms and licensed radio broadcasters.”