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ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 is an international organization defending freedom of expression and information worldwide.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Daniele Calisti (Head of Unit Competition) and Open Markets Institute and

19 Jan 2026 · Consultation on the review of Merger Guidelines

Meeting with Gesine Heinrich (Cabinet of Commissioner Marta Kos), Marko Makovec (Cabinet of Commissioner Marta Kos) and

11 Nov 2025 · Meeting with media organisations on media freedom in Serbia.

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Acting Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Open Markets Institute and Meliore Foundation

15 Jul 2025 · Civil societies’ joint statement to the Council presidency during the Gdańsk Digital Summit in June

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Acting Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Open Markets Institute and Meliore Foundation

15 Jul 2025 · Civil societies’ joint statement to the Council presidency during the Gdańsk Digital Summit in June

Response to European Democracy Shield

26 May 2025

Many of Europe's democracies are teetering on the edge. Democracies must be underpinned by a secure, sustainable, free press and media. These vital components of are now under serious threat with several EU member states deliberately subverting democracy through intimidation of journalists with the issuance of SLAPPs, issuing anti-NGO laws as a means of silencing independent and critical media outlets and decreasing media pluralism by consolidating media to lessen critical voices. There are extensive security and defence implications to all of these factors with Russia waiting in the wings as Hungary, Slovakia and others pledge their support. Arguably never before has there been such need for a so-called Democracy Shield in an age of still increasing digitalization and platform power which continues to harvest advertising revenue from independent and public broadcast media while still deciding what content is seen, read, heard and amplified. This status quo cannot continue and will destroy democracy in Europe. The signs have been clear for some time. ARTICLE 19 strongly believes that a Democracy Shield, if sufficiently considered and then implemented, can be a component to defend Europe in this new security context where the US is no longer a dependable and trustworthy ally. As an organisation focused on freedom of expression and access to information and with a global presence, we often look to the EU to forge a path for others to follow. New elements have emerged since the 2020 European Democracy Action Plan and the 2023 Defence of Democracy Package and which include: Authoritarians are now being supported and encouraged into power by two global powers Russia and the US. US Big Tech platforms have made clear that they will follow the US administration and Europe relies on these platforms. Such a concentration of power will erode what is left of democracy in Europe if a path of self-reliance is not pursued. If recommender systems are not regulated and at the least, default settings mandated to off, disinformation, FIMI and amplification of toxic material will continue to flourish. The EU must have the courage to be willing to force a change of business models or else face the consequences. Our submission contains a series of at a minimum recommendations which include: - Finally explore all the enforcement possibilities in the GDPR, DSA and DMA Providing targeted funding (e.g. a European fund for journalism) across the board to ensure independent media can be sustained to support media pluralism and protect journalists over the short term Over the longer term, consider financing for public interest media as a means to securing the promotion of EUs democratic values, strengthening the rule of law and a plurality of voices.
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Meeting with Irina Stefuriuc (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

21 May 2025 · Measures to support independent media, protect journalists and media pluralism

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European Digital Rights and

14 May 2025 · Democratic Tech Alliance

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs and

14 May 2025 · Event: Democratic Tech Alliance

Meeting with Katarina Barley (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Apr 2025 · Digitalpolitik

Meeting with Egelyn Braun (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath)

9 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act

Meeting with Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Executive Vice-President) and

7 Apr 2025 · Discussion on how civil society on competition policy and enforcement

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament) and Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs and

19 Feb 2025 · Guidelines for banned AI use cases and the definition of AI (Staff-level)

Meeting with Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath) and Committee to Protect Journalists

23 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on the Democracy Shield and media policy

Meeting with Anna Herold (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Reporters sans frontières and

22 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views in the context of preparatory work on draft guidelines on Article 18(1) European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to be issued by the European Commission under Article 18(9) of the EMFA. Anna Herold was replaced by Audrius Perkauskas

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and European Digital Rights and Access Now Europe

26 Sept 2024 · Digital Rights policy

Meeting with Leila Chaibi (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Digital Rights and Access Now Europe

26 Sept 2024 · Speaker at an event on digital policies in the EU

Meeting with René Repasi (Member of the European Parliament) and LobbyControl and

15 Apr 2024 · Anti-Monopoly Conference

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Feb 2024 · DSA implementation and digital policy in the next mandate

Response to Evaluation of the procedural rules for the implementation of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU

6 Oct 2022

Please find ARTICLE 19 and Balanced Economy Project's submission attached.
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Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and European Federation of Journalists and

8 Sept 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Reporters sans frontières and

20 Jul 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

ARTICLE 19 demands free access to company ownership data

16 Jun 2022
Topic — Public consultation on high-value datasets regarding companies and company ownership.
Message — ARTICLE 19 urges the Commission to include legal and beneficial ownership data. They request financial statements and ownership details be published free of charge. Without names, data is ineffective for journalists investigating corruption and business due diligence.123
Why — Open data allows the organization to detect and deter money laundering more efficiently.45
Impact — Corrupt actors and tax evaders lose the anonymity needed to hide illicit activities.67
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Meeting with Irina Stefuriuc (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Civil Liberties Union for Europe and Umweltinstitut München e.V.

13 Jan 2022 · SLAPP

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and Committee to Protect Journalists

9 Dec 2021 · Safety of Journalists

Response to Guidance on tackling disinformation

29 Apr 2021

ARTICLE 19 is an international human rights organisation defending the right to freedom of expression globally. We welcome the opportunity to submit feedback on the Guidance on tackling disinformation. As the Commission plans to update the current Code of Practice on Disinformation and turn it into a “more robust instrument” with “an appropriate oversight mechanism” for its implementation, we believe that this must be done consistently with international freedom of expression standards. More than ever, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to maintain an enabling environment for freedom of expression and information, which includes promoting, protecting and supporting diverse media and sources of information, and ensuring that any restrictions fully comply with international human rights standards. ARTICLE 19 has had the benefit of reading the recommendations made by Access Now, Civil Liberties Union for Europe and EDRi and agree with them. We urge the Commission to consider the additional issues when furthering its work in this area. We outline our suggestions in the attached submission.
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Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Stichting Free Press Unlimited and

19 Jun 2020 · Broad introduction to Media Freedom Rapid Response