On the proposal of Media Minister Jacqueline Galant, the Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation adopted at first reading the transposition into its legal basis (SMA decree) of the EMFA (European Media Freedom Act) regulation, aimed at protecting the independence, freedom and pluralism of the media. « Wrongly, we often have the impression that the European Union does not deal with issues that concern citizens on a daily basis. Yet the European Media Freedom Act has a concrete impact on our society: it aims to strengthen the quality of our information while better protecting those who inform us. As I have already had occasion to point out: the moral and physical integrity of journalists must be protected at all times », says Jacqueline Galant, Media Minister.
What is the EMFA?
The European Media Freedom Act is a European regulation, adopted in 2024 and applicable since 8 August 2025, which aims in particular to strengthen editorial independence, ensure media pluralism and support public service media.
Flanders and the German-speaking Community have already begun transposing the EMFA regulation, so that all communities in Belgium are now up and running.
What impact in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation?
Most of the obligations set out in the EMFA regulation are already covered by legal provisions in the SMA decree and are therefore already subject to oversight by independent bodies. The main provisions of the regulation requiring an amendment to the SMA decree relate to the independent functioning of public service media and the assessment of concentrations in the media market.
- Strengthening the independent functioning of public service media
The draft decree establishes an appointment and dismissal procedure for members of the board of directors and directors of local media, almost comparable to that provided for RTBF.
It also stipulates that funding procedures must be based on transparent and objective criteria established in advance, guaranteeing public service media providers “sufficient, sustainable and predictable” financial resources. This is already the case in practice (RTBF's management contract, agreements with local media).
- Assessing concentrations in the media market
The transposition of the regulation aims to assess the effects of any concentration of companies active in the media market on pluralism and editorial independence. The EMFA regulation therefore requires Member States to establish substantive and procedural rules and to designate the authorities responsible for this assessment.
The draft therefore amends Article 2.2-3 of the SMA decree concerning the pluralism analysis carried out when a significant position of a service publisher or service distributor is identified. This procedure now takes into account cases of concentration in the audiovisual media market.
« Let's be clear: our legal framework already included a very large majority of the provisions set out in the EMFA regulation; these are technical provisions that reinforce existing rules. Press freedom and independence hold a major place in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and we will continue to ensure that this remains the case », concludes Jacqueline Galant, Media Minister.