“Historic white smoke! We did it!”

Historic white smoke! We did it!

“‘There’s no way you’re going to get this done in this term.'” We’ve been hearing that for over a year. I’ve thought about it myself many times. I admit it.

There were attempts to demolish it from all sides. There were rebellions. There were disputes about who was responsible for what. There was drama. A lot of drama. But… reason won. Remember the Renew Europe team in this photo, who did everything and more so that after a whole day of final interinstitutional negotiations I can write to you: we have reached a political agreement on the final text of the European Media Freedom Act!

Democracy cannot function without free, critical and professional journalism. I really can’t describe my current feelings. I’m so pleased that with this legislation we are also recognizing this role of the media at the European Union level.

We know from experience that the media are constantly under pressure from political subordination, private (or business) interests or state restrictions on their activities. In the European Union, specifically the competent European Commission, they could only be “concerned” when serious violations occurred. There was no legal basis for concrete measures. Now, with this legislation, there will be.

The media has been given a special place on the market, a special place on the Internet, and journalists have been given special protection against espionage, against interference with editorial freedom, against attempts at political takeover. The content of the law is very good. Of course, also because I managed to include many of my proposals in it.

The final official confirmation will follow in the first half of next year. Thanks in particular to Rok and Joanna for their patience, determination and persistence in the endlessly long technical meetings, and of course also to my colleague from the Civil Liberties Committee (who had a say in part of the text) Ramona and her colleague Gabriel. Together we made it.

And to all you who read and follow me, greetings from Brussels!

– Irena