Estonian Media League Representatives Defended National Media Positions in European Parliament Hearing Representatives from the Estonian Media Enterprises Union, including Merle Viirmaa-Treifeldt and attorney Mari Männiko, appeared at a Renew Europe group hearing in Brussels on March 22, 2023, to discuss the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The discussion centered on concerns regarding potential European Commission oversight of media outlets. Viirmaa-Treifeldt stated that the hearing provided a crucial opportunity for Estonian media to advocate for its position. She emphasized that the EMFA’s proposed supervisory structure does not adequately protect the content of Estonian media from intermediaries. Männiko, a legal representative for the union, argued that the intended supervisory body – the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Office (TTJA) in Estonia – should not be the same entity overseeing audiovisual media. She asserted that each member state should retain the authority to determine media supervision and appoint representatives to the European Press Council. The discussion also addressed the provision of funding for public-interest media, with Männiko questioning the feasibility of state funding guaranteeing editorial independence, arguing that this principle applies equally to both public and private media. The hearing was chaired by Member of the European Parliament Andrus Ansip. Topics: #media #estonian #representatives Post navigation Introduction of the Järva Teataja on Thursday Rehabilitation or the result of a court case? The landowner uproots a road that goes several hundred meters from other houses
It’s reassuring to see Estonian publishers actively advocating for their interests within the European framework. Reply
What specific media positions were the Estonian publishers advocating for within the European Parliament? Reply