Recently approved by Members of the European Parliament, the Media Freedom Law in the EU signifies a significant milestone in safeguarding journalists and upholding press freedom, by countering political and economic interference.

This new legislation, ratified with 464 votes in favor, 92 against, and 65 abstentions, mandates Member States to safeguard the independence of media outlets, prohibiting any form of influence on editorial decisions.

A cornerstone of this law is the protection of journalists' work, preventing authorities from exerting pressure on them to disclose their sources, whether through detentions, sanctions, or intrusive electronic surveillance.

Furthermore, substantial safeguards have been integrated for the use of spyware, subject to judicial authorization in cases of serious crimes, ensuring affected individuals' right to be informed and to challenge such surveillance legally.

Regarding public media, measures have been enforced to prevent their political manipulation, requiring transparent and non-discriminatory processes in the selection of their managers and board members.

Transparency in media ownership is also mandated, with an obligation to disclose information about their owners, including any potential links to the State, in a national database.

Transparency in media ownership is also mandated, with an obligation to disclose information about their owners, including any potential links to the State, in a national database.

Another crucial aspect is the regulation of state advertising, aiming for fair and transparent allocation of public funds, to avoid any discrimination in their distribution among different media outlets.

Moreover, to safeguard the freedom of EU media from large online platforms, mechanisms have been established to prevent arbitrary censorship of content from independent sources, with platforms obligated to notify media outlets before any content exclusion or restriction.

It's essential to highlight that this legislation reflects the European Parliament's response to EU citizens' expectations, expressed in the Conference on the Future of Europe, by addressing threats to media independence, combating disinformation, and protecting journalists.

In summary, the Media Freedom Law in the EU signifies a significant advancement in safeguarding press freedom and upholding the crucial role of media as pillars of democracy.