ECAS statement on the entry into force of the European Media Freedom Act

Brussels, 8 August 2025

In 2025, more than half of EU member states performed worse than the year before in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, revealing an alarming decline in press freedom and journalist safety across the Union. The European Commission’s rule of law reports have highlighted systemic backsliding in countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Greece, where political control over the media, lack of ownership transparency, and intimidation of journalists have become persistent threats.

The use of Pegasus spyware by Hungarian and Polish authorities to surveil journalists has further underscored the fragility of media freedom in the EU. While the EMFA rightly prohibits such surveillance except in narrowly defined cases of national security, the challenge now lies in ensuring these provisions are upheld in both spirit and practice.

The past decade has also been marked by tragedy. The assassinations of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta and Ján Kuciak in Slovakia remain sobering reminders of the real dangers faced by investigative journalists exposing corruption and abuse of power within the EU. Their deaths must continue to serve as a call to action for institutions to guarantee that no journalist is silenced for doing their job.

In this context, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) strongly welcomes the entry into force of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) — the first regulation of its kind at the EU level. ECAS views this legislation as a vital step toward safeguarding journalistic independence, reinforcing media pluralism, and promoting transparency across all member states. However, we emphasise that the true value of the EMFA will be measured by its implementation. Strong legislation is only meaningful if applied consistently, transparently, and with full respect for civil liberties.

ECAS calls on all EU institutions and national governments to:

Fully implement the EMFA without delay or dilution;
Uphold the legal protections enshrined in the Act and ensure journalists can operate without fear;
Actively engage civil society, press freedom organisations, and independent regulators in monitoring enforcement and addressing violations;
Ensure the European Board for Media Services operates with full independence, authority, and resources to act decisively when press freedom is under threat.

Today marks a pivotal moment for press freedom and democratic accountability in the European Union. With the EMFA now in force, the EU has established binding safeguards to protect the media from political and economic interference. The Act strengthens transparency in media ownership, sets clearer rules for state advertising, and imposes strict limits on the use of surveillance technologies against journalists. The creation of the European Board for Media Services introduces a long-overdue institutional mechanism to oversee implementation and to intervene when fundamental media freedoms are at risk.

Media freedom is not just a professional issue — it is a democratic one. A strong, independent press is essential for holding power to account, informing the public, and defending the rule of law. The EMFA must not become another symbolic gesture. It must be a living, enforceable shield for journalists and media workers across Europe.

ECAS remains committed to advocating for democratic rights, transparent governance, and the protection of fundamental freedoms — including the right to free and independent media — for all EU citizens.