The Minister for Media of the German-speaking Community, Gregor Freches, together with Flemish Media Minister Cieltje Van Achter and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation's Media Minister Jacqueline Galant, has succeeded in defining a common Belgian position on radio reception in new cars. As part of the European negotiations on the Digital Networks Act, Belgium will advocate for maintaining direct access to radio in vehicles.
The three Communities want to avoid new cars becoming exclusively dependent on internet radio or streaming platforms. They advocate maintaining radio that is directly accessible, without a subscription, without data consumption and without an app, in order to guarantee simple access to information and preserve the visibility of local radio stations.
For Gregor Freches, this agreement shows that a common position strengthens Belgium's voice at European level: “The fact that the three Communities have reached a common position is a strong signal. Together, we will advocate at European level for free and simple access to radio. This is a decision that benefits both listeners and our regional media.”