LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 9

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 12

1. INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 15

2. A LEGAL OUTLOOK ON EMFA IMPLEMENTATION 17

3. INTERPRETING EMFA: CHALLENGES, PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS 20

  3.1. Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 20

    3.1.1. Derogations under Article 4 EMFA 21

    3.1.2. Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA 21

    3.1.3. “Serious crimes” 22

    3.1.4. Judicial authorization and regular review 23

    3.1.5. Quangos 24

  3.2. Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5) 25

    3.2.1. Appointment and dismissal of PSM governance 26

    3.2.2. Funding mechanisms for public service media 27

    3.2.3. Monitoring the application of Article 5 27

  3.3. Duties of Media Service Providers (Article 6) 29

    3.3.1. Media ownership transparency obligations 29

    3.3.2. Editorial independence 32

  3.4. Governance framework of the European Media Freedom Act 33

    3.4.1. Independent National Regulatory Authorities (Article 7) 33

    3.4.2. The European Board for Media Services 34

    3.4.3. Regulatory cooperation and convergence (Art. 14-17) 37

  3.5. Provision of and access to media services in a digital environment (Articles 18 and 19) 38

    3.5.1. MSPs’ self-declaration on VLOPs 38

    3.5.2. Special treatment in content moderation and the interplay with the DSA 39

    3.5.3. Structured dialogue 41

  3.6. Requirements for well-functioning media market measures and procedures (Articles 21-23) 42

    3.6.1. National measures affecting media service providers (Article 21) 43

    3.6.2. Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22) 44

    3.6.3. Standards to assess the implementation of Article 22 45

    3.6.4. Supervision on media market concentration at the EU level 48

  3.7. Transparent and fair allocation of economic resources (Articles 24-25) 49

    3.7.1. Audience measurement (Article 24) 49

    3.7.2. Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25) 50

4. CONCLUSIONS 53

ANNEX – COUNTRY FACTSHEETS 55

  Bulgaria 55

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 55

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 56

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 57

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 57

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 58

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 58

  Croatia 59

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 60

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 61

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial

    independence (Article 6 EMFA) 62

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (article 7 EMFA) 63

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22) 63

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25) 64

  The Czech Republic 66

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 66

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 67

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 68

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 69

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 69

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 69

  Denmark 71

    Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 71

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 73

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 73

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 74

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 74

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 74

  Finland 75

    General context 75

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 76

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 77

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 77

    Independent National Authorities (Article 7 EMFA) 78

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22) 78

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25) 79

  France 81

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 82

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 83

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 84

    Independent National Authorities (Article 7 EMFA) 85

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 85

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 86

  Germany 87

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 87

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 90

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 91

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 92

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 92

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 93

  Greece 94

    Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 94

    Independent functioning of PSM (Article 5 EMFA) 95

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 96

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 96

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 97

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 97

  Hungary 98

    General context 98

    Approach to reaching EMFA standards 99

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 99

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Art. 5 EMFA) 100

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 101

    National regulatory authorities or bodies 102

  Italy 105

    General context 105

    Approach to reaching EMFA standards 105

    What has been done so far 105

    Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance 106

    Independent functioning of PSM 107

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence 108

    National regulatory authorities or bodies 109

    Transparent and fair allocation of economic resources 111

  Ireland 114

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 114

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 117

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 118

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 118

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 119

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 120

  Lithuania 121

    Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 121

    Independent functioning of PSM (Article 5 EMFA) 122

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 124

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 124

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 124

  Malta 125

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 125

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 126

    Duties of media service providers - transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 127

    Independent National Authorities (Article 7 EMFA) 127

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 128

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 128

  The Netherlands 129

    General context 129

    Approach to reaching EMFA standards 129

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 130

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5EMFA) 131

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 132

    National regulatory authorities or bodies 132

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25) 133

  Poland 135

    Rights of media service providers. Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 135

    Independent functioning of PSM (Article 5 EMFA) 136

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership (Article 6 EMFA) 137

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 137

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 138

    State advertising (Article 25 EMFA) 138

  Slovakia 139

    Protection of journalistic sources and communications (Article 4 EMFA) 139

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 141

    Duties of media service providers - Transparency of media ownership and editorial independence (Article 6 EMFA) 142

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 142

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 143

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 144

  Slovenia 145

    Rights of media service providers - Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 145

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 146

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 147

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 147

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 148

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 148

  Spain 149

    Rights of media service providers - Protection of sources and against surveillance (Article 4 EMFA) 149

    Safeguards for the independent functioning of public service media providers (Article 5 EMFA) 151

    Duties of media service providers (Article 6 EMFA) 151

    National regulatory authorities or bodies (Article 7 EMFA) 152

    Assessment of media market concentrations (Article 22 EMFA) 153

    Allocation of public funds for state advertising and supply or service contracts (Article 25 EMFA) 153

REFERENCES 155