The Birth of the Comprehensive European Media Regulation
Critical analysis of the European Media Freedom Act
Abstract
This paper critically analyses the birth, application and future of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). Promulgated on 17 April 2024, the EMFA will fundamentally change EU media regulation, and will interfere extensively in the media regulation of Member States, be it on media services regulation, media market issues or even media pluralism. In terms of methodology, the study is based on doctrinal research and a presentation and synthesis of the literature related to the EMFA, and is structured in three parts. First, it describes the context in which the EMFA was created, showing the background of the original proposal and its adoption process. It then presents the provisions of the EMFA in detail, article by article. This section is complemented by critical remarks. Finally, the controversial issues raised by the EMFA are examined, in particular with regard to the legal basis, domestic applicability and objectives of the Regulation. The paper indicates that the EMFA raises a number of legislative and implementation problems, and may also give rise to conflicts between Member States and EU bodies.
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Copyright (c) 2024 András Koltay, János Tamás Papp, Levente Nyakas, Gergely Feremc Lendvai
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