The Evolving Regulation of the Media in Europe as an Instrument for Freedom and Pluralism

Abstract

European regulation of the media is influenced by the economic regulation of networks, contents, and e-commerce, to which it is very close. However, media regulation has one peculiar differentiating characteristic: it cannot concentrate only on market competition, as the rest of modern economic regulation does, but has to pursue other fundamental values. In particular, media pluralism and media freedom emerge as policy goals that are essential for democracy and human rights in Europe. In this paper, we discuss the EU’s search for a point of equilibrium in Member States’ resistance to the relinquishing of their power in the sector; we describe the current debate, and suggest some possible directions for development.