Activities of Vladimír BILČÍK related to 2022/0277(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
European Media Freedom Act (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU
Amendments (51)
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) State advertising should be understood broadly as covering promotional or self-promotional activities undertaken by, for or on behalf of a wide range of public authorities or entities, including governments, regulatory authorities or bodies as well as state-owned enterprises or other state-controlled entities in different sectors, at national or regional level, or local governments of territorial entities of more than 1 million inhabitants. However, the definition of state advertising should not include emergency messages by public authorities which are necessary, for example, in cases of natural or sanitary disasters, accidents or other sudden incidents that can cause harm to individuals.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) An independent authority or body designated to handle complaints lodged by media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, their employees (including those operating in non- standard forms of employment such as free-lancers and self-employed) or their family members, should be protected from any direct or indirect external influence. Such authority or body should have the necessary financial resources and relevant expertise, given the highly technical nature and sophistication of the surveillance measures. Furthermore, it should cooperate with other relevant supervisory authorities, such as data protection authorities, each acting within their respective areas of competence.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Without prejudice to the powers granted to the Commission by the Treaties, it is essential that the Commission and the Board work and cooperate closely. In particular, the Board should actively support the Commission in its tasks of ensuring the consistent application of this Regulation and of the national rules implementing Directive 2010/13/EU. For that purpose, the Board should in particular advise and assist the Commission on regulatory, technical or practical aspects pertinent to the application of Union law, promote cooperation and the effective exchange of information, experience and best practices and draw up opinions ion agreement with the Commissionits own initiative or upon itsthe request from the Commission in the cases envisaged by this Regulation. In order to effectively and independently fulfil its tasks, the Board should be able to rely on the expertise and human resources of a secretariat provided by the Commission. The Commission secretariat should provide administrative and organisational support to the Board, and help the Board in carrying out its tasks.
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) To this end, providers of very large online platforms should provide a functionality on their online interface to enable media service providers to declare that they meet certain requirements, while at the same time retaining the possibility not to accept such self-declaration where they consider that these conditions are not met. Providers of very large online platforms may rely on information regarding adherence to these requirements, such as the machine-readable standard of the Journalism Trust Initiative or other relevant codes of conduct. Guidelines by the Commission mayshould be useful to facilitate an effective implementation of such functionality, including on modalities of involvement of relevant civil society organisations in the review of the declarations, on consultation of the regulator of the country of establishment, where relevant, and address any potential abuse of the functionality.
Amendment 269 #
(39) It is also key that the Board is empowered to issue an opinion, on its own initiative or upon the Commission’s request, where national measures are likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. This is, for example, the case when a national administrative measure is addressed to a media service provider providing its services towards more than one Member State, or when the concerned media service provider has a significant influence on the formation of public opinion in that Member Statesuch measure is preventing a media service provider established in one Member States from providing services in another Member State, or when the concerned media service provider has a significant influence on the formation of public opinion in that Member State. Media service providers that consider to be directly affected by specific measures should also be able to request the Board to issue an opinion on the measures in question.
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) National regulatory authorities or bodies, as well as self-regulatory press bodies and civil society organisations, who have specific expertise in the area of media pluralism, should be involved in the assessment of the impact of media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence where they are not the designated authorities or bodies themselves. In order to foster legal certainty and ensure that the rules and procedures are genuinely geared at protecting media pluralism and editorial independence, it is essential that objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria for notifying and assessing the impact of media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence are set out in advance.
Amendment 282 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 43
Recital 43
(43) The Board should be empowered to provide opinions on draft decisions or opinions by the designated or involved national regulatory authorities or bodies, where the notifiable concentrations may affect the functioning of the internal media market. This would be the case, for example, where such concentrations involve at least one undertaking established in another Member State or operating in more than one Member State or result in media service providers having a significant influence on formation of public opinion in a given media market. Moreover, where the concentration has not been assessed for its impact on media pluralism and editorial independence by the relevant national authorities or bodies, or where the national regulatory authorities or bodies have not consulted the Board regarding a given media market concentration, but that media market concentration is considered likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services, the Board should be able to provide an opinion, on its own initiative or upon request of the Commission. In any event, the Commission retains the possibility to issue its own opinions following the opinions drawn up by the Board.
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) With a view to ensuring pluralistic media markets, the national authorities or bodies and the Board should take account of a set of criteria. In particular, impact on media pluralism should be considered, including notably the effect on the formation of public opinion, taking into account of the online environment. Concurrently, it should be considered whether other media outlets, providing different and alternative content, would still coexist in the given market(s) after the media market concentration in question. Assessment of safeguards for editorial independence should include the examination of potential risks of undue interference by the prospective owner, management or governance structure in the individual editorial decisions of the acquired or merged entity. The existing or envisaged internal safeguards aimed at preserving independence of the individual editorial decisions within the media undertakings involved should also be taken into account. The Board should also take into account the chapters and any country specific recommendations on media pluralism and media freedom in the Commission’s annual rule of law report as well as the Media Pluralism Monitor. In assessing the potential impacts, the effects of the concentration in question on the economic sustainability of the entity or entities subject to the concentration should also be considered and whether, in the absence of the concentration, they would be economically sustainable, in the sense that they would be able in the medium term to continue to provide and further develop financially viable, adequately resourced and technologically adapted quality media services in the market.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 15
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 15
(15) ‘State advertising’ means the placement, publication or dissemination, in any media service, of a promotional or self-promotional message, normally in return for payment or for any other consideration, by, for or on behalf of any national or regional public authority, such as national, federal or regional governments, regulatory authorities or bodies as well as state-owned enterprises or other state-controlled entities at the national or regional level, or any local government of a territorial entity of more than 1 million inhabitants;
Amendment 361 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Recipients of media services in the Union shall have the right to receive a plurality of news and current affairs content, produced with respect for editorial freedom of media service providers, without any interference from the state, to the benefit of the public discourse.
Amendment 362 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Recipients of media services in the Union shall have the right to receive a plurality of quality news and current affairs content, produced with respect for editorial freedom of media service providers, to the benefit of the public discourse.
Amendment 372 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States shall respect effective editorial freedom and independence of media service providers. Member States, including their national regulatory authorities and bodies, shall not:
Amendment 376 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) interfere in or try to influence in any way, directly or indirectly, editorial policies and editorial decisions by media service providers;
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) detain, sanction, intercept, subject to surveillance or search and seizure, or inspect media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, their employees or their family members, or their corporate and private premises, on the ground that theymedia service providers or their employees refuse to disclose information on their sources, unless and only this is justified by an overriding requirement in the public interest, in accordance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and in compliance with other Union law;
Amendment 386 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) order the disclosure of their sources, detain, sanction, intercept, subject to surveillance or search and seizure, or inspect media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, their employees, especially journalists, or their family members, or their corporate and private premises, on the ground that they refuse to disclose information on their sources, unless this is justified by an overriding requirement in the public interest, in accordance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and in compliance with other Union law;
Amendment 396 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) access encrypted communications or deploy spyware in any device or machine used by media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, or their employees, especially journalists, or their family members, unless the deployment is justified, on a case-by-case basis, on grounds of national security and is in compliance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and other Union law or the deployment occurs in serious crimes, as defined in Article 2(17) of this Regulation, investigations of one of the aforementioned persons, it is provided for under national law and is in compliance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and other Union law, and measures adopted pursuant to sub- paragraph (b) would be inadequate and insufficient to obtain the information sought.
Amendment 398 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) deploy spyware or any other intrusive surveillance technologies in any device or machine used by media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, or their employees or their family members, unless the deployment is justified, proportionate and necessary, on a case-by-case basis, on grounds of national security and is in compliance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and other Union law or the deployment occurs in serious crimes investigations of one of the aforementioned persons, it is provided for under national law and is in compliance with Article 52(1) of the Charter and other Union law, and measures adopted pursuant to sub- paragraph (b) would be inadequate and insufficient to obtain the information sought.
Amendment 410 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. Without prejudice and in addition to the right to effective judicial protection guaranteed to each natural and legal person, Member States shall designate and guarantee an independent authority or body to handle complaints lodged by media service providers or, if applicable, their family members, their employees or their family members, regarding breaches of paragraph 2, points (b) and (c). Media service providers shall have the right to request that authority or body to issue, within three months of the request, an opinion regarding compliance with paragraph 2, points (b) and (c).
Amendment 412 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Provisions of this Article shall be applicable also to natural persons in non- standard forms of employment, such as free-lancers and self-employed, exercising activities in the same field as media service providers and their employees.
Amendment 425 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The head of management and the members of the governing board of public service media providers shall be appointed through a transparent, predictable and consistent, open and non-discriminatory procedure and on the basis of transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria laid down in advance by national law. Selection criteria shall be predictable and consistent for those involved and shall be known no less than 1 year before the planned appointment.
Amendment 430 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The duration of their term of office shall be established by national law, and be adequate and sufficient to ensure effective independence of the public media service provider. They may be dismissed before the end of their term of office only exceptionally and on the basis of a clear review mechanism where they no longer fulfil the legally predefined conditions required for the performance of their duties laid down in advance by national law or for specific reasons of illegal conduct or serious misconduct as defined in advance by national law.
Amendment 466 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) where appropriate, the extent to which their direct, indirect or beneficial ownership is held by the government, a state institution, state-owned enterprise or other public body.
Amendment 495 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Without prejudice to national constitutional laws consistent with the Charter, media service providers providing news and current affairs content shall take measures that they deem appropriate with a view to guaranteeing the independence of individual editorial decisions based on established professional editorial line. In particular, such measures shall aim to:
Amendment 503 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) guarantee that editors are free and independent to take individual editorial decisions in the exercise of their professional activity; and
Amendment 514 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Amendment 531 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the national regulatory authorities or bodies have adequate financial, human and technical resources to carry out their tasks under this Regulation independently, transparently and without political or any other undue influence.
Amendment 532 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the national regulatory authorities or bodies have adequatppropriate and sustainable financial, human and technical resources to carry out their tasks under this Regulation and guarantee their full independence.
Amendment 541 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
National regulatory authorities or bodies shall hold regular consultations with representatives of media service providers, civil society organisations, academia and independent media experts. The outcomes of these consultations shall be reflected in a publically available annual report.
Amendment 548 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
The Board shall act in full independence, including of any government or other undue influence, when performing its tasks or exercising its powers. In particular, the Board shall be completely autonomous, in the performance of its tasks or the exercise of its powers of any political, governmental or other undue influence when performing its tasks and, neither seek nor take instructions from any government, institution, person or body. This shall not affect the competences of the Commission or the national regulatory authorities or bodies in conformity with this Regulation.
Amendment 568 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 589 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. The Board shall have a secretariat, which shall be providith adequate financial resources and independent expertise to carry out tasks outlined byin the Commissis Regulation.
Amendment 623 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
(e) in agreement withAfter informing the Commission, draw up opinions with respect to:
Amendment 632 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f – introductory part
(f) upon request ofagreement with the Commission, draw up opinions with respect to:
Amendment 721 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The Board shall coordinate measures by national regulatory authorities or bodies related to the dissemination of or access to media services provided by media service providers established outside the Union that target audiences in the Union where, inter alia in view of the control that may be exercised by third countries over them, such media services prejudice or present a serious and grave risk of prejudice to public security and defenceinterest, security, including information security, and defence, including defence against dangerous disinformation.
Amendment 785 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 6
Article 17 – paragraph 6
6. With a view to facilitating the consistent and effective implementation of this Article, the Commission mayshall issue guidelines to establish the form and details of the declaration set out in paragraph 1.
Amendment 803 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Any legislative, regulatory or administrative measure taken by a Member State, including but not limited to the implementation of Directive 2010/13/EU, that is liable to affect the provision or operation of media service providers in the internal market shall be duly justified and proportionate. Such measures shall be reasoned, transparent, objective and non- discriminatory and shall not disproportionately disrupt the operation of media service providers.
Amendment 804 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Any legislative, regulatory or administrative measure taken by a Member State that is liable to affect the operation of media service providers in the internal market shall be duly justified and proportionate. Such measures shall be reasoned, transparent, objective and non- discriminatory as well as follow the principle of non-regression on EU values in Member States with respect to media freedom and independence.
Amendment 810 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 3
Article 20 – paragraph 3
3. Without prejudice and in addition to its right to effective judicial protection, any media service provider subject to an administrative or regulatory measure referred to in paragraph 1 that concerns it individually and directly shall have the right to appeal against that measure to an appellate body. That body shall be independent of the parties involved and of any external intervention or political pressure liable to jeopardise its independent assessment of matters coming before it. It shall have the appropriate expertise to enable it to carry out its functions effectively and to respond to any appeals timely.
Amendment 812 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 4
Article 20 – paragraph 4
4. The Board, on its own initiative or upon request of the Commission, shall draw up an opinion where a national legislative, regulatory or administrative measure is likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. Following the opinion of the Board, and without prejudice to its powers under the Treaties, the Commission may issue its own opinion on the matter. Opinions by the Board and, where applicable, by the Commission shall be made publicly available. Where applicable, media service providers that consider to be directly affected by such measures shall also be able to request the Board to issue an opinion.
Amendment 813 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 4
Article 20 – paragraph 4
4. The Board, upon request of the Commission, shall draw up an opinion where a national legislative, regulatory or administrative measure is likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. The opinion shall, where appropriate, include proportionality analysis and can include consultation with national stakeholders. Following the opinion of the Board, and without prejudice to its powers under the Treaties, the Commission mayshall issue its own opinion on the matter. Opinions by the Board and, where applicable, by the Commission shall be made publicly available.
Amendment 831 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The assessment referred to in this paragraph shall provide an independent evaluation of any undue distortions to the media environment and be distinct from the competition law assessments including those provided for under merger control rules. It shall be without prejudice to Article 21(4) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004, where applicable.
Amendment 832 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the impact of the concentration on media pluralism, including its effects on the formation of public opinion and on the diversity and independence of media players on the market, taking into account the online environment and the parties’ interests, links or activities in other media or non-media businesses;
Amendment 836 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the safeguards for editorial independence, including the impact of the concentration on the functioning of the editorial teams and the existence of measures by media service providers taken with a view to guaranteeing the independence and adequate quality of individual editorial decisions;
Amendment 837 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the safeguards for editorial independence, including the impact of the concentration on the functioningindependence of the editorial teams and the existence of measures by media service providers taken with a view to guaranteeing the independence of individual editorial decisions;
Amendment 851 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. In the absence of an assessment or a consultation pursuant to Article 21, the Board, on its own initiative or upon request of the Commission, shall draw up an opinion on the impact of a media market concentration on media pluralism and editorial independence, where a media market concentration is likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. The Board shall base its opinion on the elements set out in Article 21(2). The Board may bring media market concentrations likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services to the attention of the Commission.
Amendment 854 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. In the absence of an assessment or a consultation pursuant to Article 21, the Board, upon request of the Commission, shall draw up an opinion on the impact of a media market concentration on media pluralism and editorial independence, where a media market concentration is likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. The Board shall base its opinion on the elements set out in Article 21(2). The Board may bring media market concentrations likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services to the attention of the Commission.
Amendment 890 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1
Article 24 – paragraph 1
1. Public funds or any other consideration or advantage granted by public authorities to media service providers and providers of online platforms for the purposes of advertising shall be awarded according to transparent, objective, proportionate and non- discriminatory criteria and through open, proportionate and non-discriminatory procedures. This Article shall not affect public procurement rules.
Amendment 901 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Public authorities, including national, federal or regional governments, regulatory authorities or bodies, as well as state-owned enterprises or other state- controlled entities at the national or regional level, or local governments of territorial entities of more than 1 million inhabitants, shall make publicly available accurate, comprehensive, intelligible, detailed and yearly information about their advertising expenditure allocated to media service providers and providers of online platforms, which shall include at least the following details:
Amendment 902 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. PRelevant public authorities, including national, federal or regional governments, regulatory authorities or bodies, as well as state-owned enterprises or other state- controlled entities at the national or regional level, or local governments of territorial entities of more than 1 million inhabitants, shall make publicly available accurate, comprehensive, intelligible, detailed and yearly information about their advertising expenditure allocated to media service providers, which shall include at least the following details:
Amendment 904 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the legal names of media service providers or providers of online platforms from which advertising services were purchased;
Amendment 905 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the total annual amount spent as well as the amounts spent per media service provider or provider of online platform.