The Swedish presidency of the EU Council wants to discuss how the Media Freedom Act will strengthen the media sector, how it will complement the current regulatory framework, and the remaining hurdles at a ministerial meeting in May.

European ministers will gather for a meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 16 May, with the European Media Freedom Act on the agenda. The draft law is intended to boost ownership transparency and safeguard media pluralism in Europe.

According to a preparatory note obtained by EURACTIV, the Audiovisual and Media Working Party, a technical body of the Council, will discuss on Monday (17 April) the current state of play of the discussions to inform a progress report.

“While this report will serve the purpose of informing Ministers of where we stand, it will
also be intended as the starting point for the ministerial policy debate that is meant to
pave the way towards reaching a General Approach on the EMFA under the Swedish
Presidency,” reads the note dated 11 April.

During the meeting, ministers are expected to endorse the changes introduced to the text so far and provide political guidance on crucial aspects of the file.

In particular, the presidency wants to discuss how to best strengthen the media sector and help journalists to work independently, how the proposal can complement the EU’s framework of digital regulation to balance new online services and content-producing media better, as well as any unresolved issues in the file.

With the preparatory note, the Swedes circulated an additional compromise text, also dated 11 April and seen by EURACTIV. The most significant change in the document is that the provisions covering the use of spyware against media service providers and the protection of journalistic sources have been fleshed out.

The additional wording states that EU governments should ensure the effective protection of journalistic sources and should refrain from obliging media outlets or journalists from disclosing them.

The text also includes an addition to the provisions against the use of spyware. The original text prohibits member states from using spyware against media service providers, their families or employees unless justified on a case-by-case basis in the name of national security or as part of an investigation into a serious crime.

The Swedish presidency’s proposal includes specifics on this point, noting that the serious crime must be one of those outlined in European law and be punishable in the relevant EU country by a custodial sentence or detention order of at least three years.

Source: Euractiv.com