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European Magazine Media Association

EMMA

The European Magazine Media Association represents the interests of magazine and media publishers across print and digital platforms.

Lobbying Activity

Press publishers demand medium-neutrality in potential AVMSD review

18 Dec 2025
Topic — The European Commission is evaluating and potentially updating rules for audiovisual media services.
Message — The associations insist that the press sector must remain self-regulated and excluded from the directive's scope. Any new prominence rules must be medium-neutral to avoid discriminating against digital press publications. They also advocate extending advertising restrictions to digital gatekeeper platforms.123
Why — Maintaining and extending advertising caps would protect the economic foundations of the press.4
Impact — Large digital platforms would lose their current freedom to operate without advertising limits.5
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Meeting with Mario Furore (Member of the European Parliament) and EUROCINEMA, Association de producteurs de cinéma et de télévision and European Film Agency Directors

29 Oct 2025 · AgoraEU

European press publishers oppose centralised consent management plans

14 Oct 2025
Topic — Simplification measures for digital regulations including cookie consent and data rules.
Message — Publishers oppose centralised consent management mechanisms, arguing this would severely undermine their ability to finance digital publications through advertising. They request that any simplification remains limited to technical adjustments and allow publishers to obtain consent directly from readers.12345
Why — This would preserve their ability to use personalised advertising and data processing essential for financing digital publications.678
Impact — Citizens lose access to freely available, advertising-financed media as publications become financially unviable.910
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Meeting with Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Executive Vice-President) and

15 Sept 2025 · EU digital policy

Meeting with Michael McGrath (Commissioner) and

3 Sept 2025 · Exchange of views on the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act and Democracy Shield

European media publishers oppose mandatory fair share payments to telecoms

1 Jul 2025
Topic — The Digital Networks Act aims to boost investments in secure high-speed broadband infrastructure.
Message — The publishers oppose any fair contribution or mandatory fees for delivering digital traffic. They argue such mechanisms would endanger net neutrality and the sustainability of media.12
Why — Rejecting these fees protects the financial resources necessary for publishers to invest in content.3
Impact — Telecom operators lose a potential revenue stream from large content providers and media companies.45
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Meeting with Laurence Farreng (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and European Film Agency Directors

11 Jun 2025 · IA générative

Meeting with Helmut Brandstätter (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

28 May 2025 · Exchange of Views

Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 May 2025 · Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges

Meeting with Marco Giorello (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs and

19 Mar 2025 · Code of Conduct on Online Advertising – Workshop 4

Meeting with Nathalie Loiseau (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair) and News Media Europe

18 Mar 2025 · Bouclier démocratique européen

Meeting with Marco Giorello (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Apple Inc. and

13 Mar 2025 · Code of Conduct on Online Advertising – Workshop 3

Meeting with Alina Nedea (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez), Anna Vernet (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez), Sean Mernagh (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez) and

7 Mar 2025 · Competition policy and DMA and the European press sector

Meeting with Egelyn Braun (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath), Jördis Ferroli (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath), Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath) and

6 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the Democracy Shield, the Digital Fairness Act and European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Marco Giorello (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and EuroCommerce and

6 Mar 2025 · Code of Conduct on Online Advertising – Workshop 2

Meeting with Marco Giorello (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and EuroCommerce and

4 Mar 2025 · Code of Conduct on Online Advertising – Workshop 1

Meeting with Desislava Dimitrova (Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

24 Feb 2025 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Rita Wezenbeek (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

11 Feb 2025 · Opening Session: DSA roundtable discussions on online advertising (Article 46 DSA)

Meeting with Anna Herold (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union) and

21 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.

Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

16 Jan 2025 · Event on online advertising

Meeting with Kristian Vigenin (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

23 Oct 2024 · Media independence

Meeting with Evin Incir (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

23 Oct 2024 · Press and Media

Meeting with Dóra Dávid (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

22 Oct 2024 · Legislative priorities for the 10th legislature

Meeting with Diana Riba I Giner (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

22 Oct 2024 · EU Media and digital policies

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and News Media Europe

21 Oct 2024 · Press freedo, media growth strategy, IP protections

Meeting with Sandro Ruotolo (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and

30 Sept 2024 · Cult priorities 2024-2029

European press publishers urge removing car labels from media advertising

16 Apr 2024
Topic — The European Commission is evaluating rules for car fuel efficiency and CO2 emission labelling.
Message — Information requirements should be moved from advertisements to manufacturer websites and points of sale. Publishers argue that overloading advertisements with technical data is counterproductive for consumers.12
Why — Removing mandatory labels would protect advertising revenues essential for financing independent journalism.34
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Meeting with Eleonora Ocello (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton), Maurits-Jan Prinz (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

26 Sept 2023 · AI and copyright

Meeting with Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

13 Jul 2023 · AI, copyright

European publishers urge data access to protect legal media

27 May 2023
Topic — The consultation sets rules for researcher access to data from large online platforms.
Message — The associations request that regulators monitor how platform algorithms impact legal media content. They demand a clear distinction between illegal content and legal editorial material.12
Why — This would stop platforms from arbitrarily demoting or removing publishers' legal online content.3
Impact — Large platforms would lose the discretion to moderate legal content using their own terms.4
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Meeting with Ibán García Del Blanco (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

30 Mar 2023 · Exchange of views on the EMFA

Magazine publishers oppose mandatory hazard pictograms in media advertising

29 Mar 2023
Topic — The EU is revising rules for classifying, labelling, and packaging hazardous chemical products.
Message — EMMA-ENPA rejects the mandatory inclusion of graphic pictograms and detailed hazard statements in media advertising. They claim these requirements are disproportionate and threaten the financial sustainability of the press.12
Why — Maintaining current rules protects the advertising income necessary for the survival of European press titles.3
Impact — Consumers lose the opportunity to receive prominent visual hazard warnings while viewing newspaper advertisements.4
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Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union)

28 Feb 2023 · Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Jana Toom (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

7 Feb 2023 · European Media Freedom Act

European Publishers Oppose EU Media Freedom Act as Threat to Press Independence

19 Jan 2023
Topic — EU regulation establishing common framework for media services and editorial independence standards.
Message — The associations request exclusion of press from EU regulatory oversight and removal of provisions interfering with editorial freedom. They argue the regulation lacks proper legal basis and threatens press independence through unprecedented EU control over editorial decisions and newsroom organization.123
Why — This would preserve their editorial autonomy and avoid EU oversight of internal newsroom operations.45
Impact — Member States with fragile media freedom lose EU regulatory pressure to improve standards.67
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Meeting with João Albuquerque (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Oct 2022 · European Magazine Media Association

Meeting with Penelope Papandropoulos (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager), Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

30 Sept 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

20 Jul 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

19 Jul 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

19 May 2022 · Political Advertising

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

29 Apr 2022 · EMFA

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

15 Mar 2022 · Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

7 Oct 2021 · Media remuneration in DMA

Meeting with Penelope Papandropoulos (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager), Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

7 Oct 2021 · Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

24 Jun 2021 · Eprivacy regulation

Meeting with Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

24 Jun 2021 · E-Privacy Regulation

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

22 Mar 2021 · DMA

Meeting with Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager), Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

22 Mar 2021 · DMA

Response to Setting of nutrient profiles

1 Feb 2021

Please see document attached.
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Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

25 Nov 2020 · Media Action Plan and DMA

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

23 Nov 2020 · EDAP, MAAP, Rule of Law

Meeting with Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

6 Oct 2020 · To discuss the Digital Services Act

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and

6 Oct 2020 · DSA

Response to Empowering the consumer for the green transition

31 Aug 2020

EMMA, the European Magazine Media Association and ENPA, the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association, together represent tens of thousands newspaper, magazine and news media publishers from across Europe who deliver press content to millions of EU citizens daily on a wide variety of digital platforms, as well as in print. Despite the multidimensional proposal, we will limit our contribution on the information and advertising aspect. As the Special Eurobarometer 501 cited in the inception impact assessment has highlighted, the free press remains the main driver for providing information to European citizens about the environment. It has therefore again been confirmed that the free press continues to play a decisive role in raising awareness on environmental issues as well as in bringing about individual and societal change to enable the green transition. Yet, the free press heavily depends on advertising in order to finance its editorial content. Up to 50% of the revenues of the printed press and up to more than 90% of the revenues of the digital press come from advertising. Hence, any legislation directly or indirectly impacting advertising undermines the sustainability of the press across Europe and puts at risk editorial freedoms and media plurality. While the free press already today is amongst the main source of information for environmental issues, the Commission’s findings highlighted that information at the point of sale has been considered to not always be sufficient. We can therefore support the Commission’s aim outlined in the inception impact assessment to improve the relevant information provided to consumers at the point of sale, both in brick and mortar stores as well as online. Improving information requirements at the point of sale would also be in line with the reasonable compromise found at EU level in the past decade between mandatory product information for all consumers and the financing of the free press. This compromise has shown that it is indeed possible to ensure well-informed purchase decisions of all consumers without jeopardising media freedom and plurality. The compromise therefore provided that on one hand, all consumers will be put in a position to make informed decisions by inescapably providing them with all relevant information prior to the purchase decision. This is ensured both at the point of sale, in technical promotional material as well as in the case of all kinds of distance selling. At the same time, advertising in the press remains free from any mandatory information, and in particular free of any graphics or labels, as this would render the advertising space less attractive, weaken the advertising message and negatively impact the already endangered press’ advertising revenues, which are indispensable to any free press. Therefore, any restriction on the freedom to advertise, be it via advertising bans, mandatory information in advertising etc, would – especially considering that the Commission primarily identified shortcomings in terms of information at the point of sale only - be disproportionate and unjustified. Advertising restrictions or obligations would effectively undermine advertisements and marketing communications, reduce the revenues of the press and therefore also restrict the ability of consumers to make informed choices about the sustainability of products. At the same time, any advertising restriction would disproportionately hurt our critical sector which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and further jeopardize the financing of newspapers and magazines. With regard to better enforcement of consumer protection rules, we would point to the new deal for consumer proposals, which have not been transposed yet. It would therefore we advisable to assess the effectiveness of the new rules before adding a new layer of restriction on advertising which would impact the financing of the press which is more than ever relevant to support.
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Meeting with Ramona Strugariu (Member of the European Parliament) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

2 Jun 2020 · Media Freedom

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

14 May 2020 · Digital services Act

European publishers demand voice in GDPR application report

28 Apr 2020
Topic — The European Commission is evaluating the application and impact of the GDPR.
Message — The associations request a public consultation to ensure the report considers the press. They seek a balanced application regarding journalistic purposes and subscription acquisitions.12
Why — This would allow publishers to protect revenue-generating activities like direct marketing.3
Impact — Privacy-focused consumers could see protections weakened in favor of business interests.4
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Meeting with Olivier Guersent (Director-General Competition)

28 Apr 2020 · Discussion on numeric

Response to Review of energy labelling for residential ventilation units

27 Apr 2020

EMMA-ENPA's position is attached.
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Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

17 Apr 2020 · Economic impact of COVID-19

Meeting with Margrethe Vestager (Executive Vice-President) and

24 Feb 2020 · Digital policy

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel)

29 Jan 2019 · Copyright

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel)

15 Nov 2018 · Copyright

Meeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

23 Oct 2018 · Copyright

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

25 Sept 2018 · Copyright

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

27 Feb 2018 · copyright, e-privacy

Meeting with Antoine Kasel (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and

31 Jan 2018 · The VAT for digital publications

Meeting with Carl-Christian Buhr (Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

22 Nov 2017 · e-privacy regulation

Meeting with Antoine Kasel (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

12 Oct 2017 · Dicussion of VAT

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

24 May 2017 · GDPR Implementation and Privacy Shield

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

8 Feb 2017 · Publishers right

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

20 Dec 2016 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

23 Nov 2016 · E-privacy review

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

15 Nov 2016 · copyright & e-privacy

Meeting with Martin Übelhör (Digital Economy) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

15 Nov 2016 · ePrivacy directive

Meeting with Antoine Kasel (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

9 Nov 2016 · VAT rates for electronically supplied publications

Meeting with Laure Chapuis-Kombos (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

9 Nov 2016 · e-privacy directive

Meeting with Kevin O'Connell (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

10 Oct 2016 · e-privacy directive

Meeting with Bodo Lehmann (Digital Economy) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

10 Oct 2016 · e-privacy directive

Meeting with Bodo Lehmann (Digital Economy) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

10 Oct 2016 · e-Privacy directive

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

27 Sept 2016 · copyright, AVMSD, e-privacy

Meeting with Annika Nowak (Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

8 Sept 2016 · Copyright

Meeting with Sebastian Kuck (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

5 Sept 2016 · Pushlishers' right / copyright

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

2 Sept 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Nele Eichhorn (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger

31 Aug 2016 · copyright reform

Meeting with Eduard Hulicius (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

29 Aug 2016 · Copyright reform

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

29 Aug 2016 · Copyright reform

Meeting with Philippos Savvides (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides)

9 Aug 2016 · information session

Meeting with Marlene Holzner (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy) and Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger

18 May 2016 · copyright, AVMSD

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

17 May 2016 · AVMSD

Meeting with Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

18 Apr 2016 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Stephen Quest (Director-General Taxation and Customs Union) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

11 Apr 2016 · VAT discussion

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and

9 Mar 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

17 Feb 2016 · AVMSD

Meeting with Maximilian Strotmann (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

4 Dec 2015 · DSM, media innovation

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger

2 Dec 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Eduard Hulicius (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association and Medienverband der freien Presse e.V.

12 Nov 2015 · Copyright issues related to magazines and newspapers

Meeting with Kevin O'Connell (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)

19 Oct 2015 · Data protection, DSM

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

29 Sept 2015 · Copyright, AVMS dir.

Meeting with Roberto Viola (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

29 Sept 2015 · Copyright and privacy

Meeting with Juhan Lepassaar (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip), Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

10 Sept 2015 · DSM

Meeting with Andreja Kodrin (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

9 Sept 2015 · private data security

Meeting with Irena Andrassy (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica), Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica) and Axel Springer SE

8 Sept 2015 · Exchange of views on General Data Protection Regulation

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

14 Jul 2015 · EMMA_Future Media Lab

Meeting with Fabrice Comptour (Cabinet of Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska)

12 Mar 2015 · Intro meeting

Meeting with Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

12 Mar 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Maria Elena Scoppio (Cabinet of Commissioner Pierre Moscovici) and European Newspaper Publishers' Association

9 Mar 2015 · VAT and e-publications

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

3 Mar 2015 · Copyright

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

3 Mar 2015 · Copyright, data protection

Meeting with Heidi Jern (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

15 Jan 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Nele Eichhorn (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

17 Dec 2014 · Introductory meeting where EMMA presented positions on issues of relevance in negotiations on TTIP and for the work on the Digital Single Market

Meeting with Tibor Navracsics (Commissioner) and

9 Dec 2014 · Exchange of views and priorities for the culture sector 2015