European Publishers Council

EPC

The European Publishers Council represents CEOs of leading European media and publishing groups.

Lobbying Activity

European Publishers Council opposes expanding media rules to digital press

20 Dec 2025
Message — The EPC advocates for the status quo to prevent digital news from being regulated as broadcasting. They want dissociable video sections strictly defined to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens on news websites. Finally, they demand equal prominence for news apps on digital devices like connected TVs.123
Why — This protects publishers from broadcasting regulations and ensures their apps stay visible on connected devices.45
Impact — Public broadcasters lose their exclusive priority placement on user interfaces if prominence rules are expanded.6

EPC urges media exemptions in Digital Fairness Act

24 Oct 2025
Message — The EPC demands a distinction between dominant platforms and responsible publishers to protect media sustainability. They advocate for proportional rules that safeguard legitimate subscription models and first-party data use. Finally, they urge enforcement of existing regulations before introducing new ones.12
Why — Publishers would protect essential revenue streams from digital subscriptions and personalized advertising.3
Impact — Online opinion influencers would face new transparency obligations and editorial accountability.4

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2025 · Media and tech policies

Meeting with Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President) and

1 Oct 2025 · Exchange of views on the challenges faced by the news media sector in the context of AI

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

17 Sept 2025 · EU competition policy and Digital Markets Act (DMAEU competition policy and Digital Markets Act (DMA)

European Publishers Council Demands Copyright Protections for AI Data

18 Jul 2025
Message — The group wants fair remuneration and licensing-based access to protect high-quality editorial data. They also propose a Media Impact Assessment Test to ensure media sustainability.123
Why — This would create new revenue streams and protect their business from regulatory harm.45
Impact — AI developers and tech platforms would face increased licensing costs and administrative burdens.6

European Publishers Council rejects network fees to protect media pluralism

11 Jul 2025
Message — The organization rejects any framework for network usage fees or direct payments to telecom providers. They urge the Commission to reinforce net neutrality and avoid reopening current regulations to maintain legal certainty.12
Why — Publishers avoid additional distribution costs and preserve non-discriminatory access to digital networks.3
Impact — Consumers would face reduced media variety and higher costs if fees are introduced.4

Response to Guidance on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising

25 Jun 2025

The European Publishers Council (EPC) is a high-level group of Chairmen and CEOs of Europes leading media groups representing companies which are active in news media, television, radio, digital marketplaces, journals, eLearning, databases and books. We have been communicating with Europes legislators since 1991 on issues that affect the health and viability of journalistically-driven media and publishing companies in the European Union which uphold the freedom of expression, media diversity, and democratic debate. EPC and its members appreciate the invitation to contribute to the call for evidence concerning the upcoming guidance on the implementation of EU rules related to political advertising. We firmly believe that the careful examination and increased transparency of political campaigning are fundamental pillars supporting healthy and effective democratic processes. The protection of democracy and the proper operation of its institutions are of utmost importance in today's complex information landscape. Please, do find attached our detailed feedback.
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European Publishers Council calls for mandatory EU bot registration

20 Jun 2025
Message — The EPC proposes mandatory registration for automated agents (bots) operating within the EU digital ecosystem. They also request streamlined reporting obligations and stronger resilience against ransomware for newsrooms.12
Why — A registration system would help publishers prevent unauthorized scraping and protect their copyrighted content.3
Impact — Operators of unregistered bots would face blacklisting, penalties, and restricted access to digital infrastructure.4

European Publishers Council demands AI training require content licensing

30 May 2025
Message — Publishers demand that AI developers must transparently disclose training data sources and obtain consent-based licenses before using editorial content. They want media stakeholders included in AI policy dialogues and public sector AI to partner with trusted news outlets rather than scraping content.1234
Why — This would protect their licensing markets and ensure payment when AI systems use their content.56
Impact — AI developers lose free access to high-quality training data and face increased compliance costs.78

European Publishers Council urges flexibility for political advertising labels

28 May 2025
Message — The Council calls for less rigid requirements to protect innovation. They want room for existing industry practices and standards. They request that advertisements use links instead of full notices.12
Why — This would lower compliance costs and protect advertising space from technical labels.34
Impact — Transparency advocates lose immediate visibility of targeting details if moved to secondary notices.5

Meeting with Marie-Helene Boulanger (Head of Unit Justice and Consumers) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union) and

22 May 2025 · Consultation of media representatives and associations in the context of the preparation of the upcoming European Democracy Shield (“focus group”).

Meeting with Thomas Schmitz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

21 May 2025 · Publishers industry

Response to International Digital Strategy

19 May 2025

The EPC, representing Europes leading editorial media organisations, welcomes the Commissions initiative to shape a robust international digital strategy. We support the EUs ambition to be a sovereign, competitive, and human-centric global digital actor. However, the strategy must also reflect the need to safeguard media freedom, intellectual property, and the economic sustainability of Europes editorial and creative sectors. 1. Editorial Sovereignty Must Be Part of Digital Sovereignty Technological sovereignty must go hand in hand with editorial sovereignty. Europes global digital leadership should rest not only on infrastructure and innovation, but also on the freedom, integrity, and viability of its independent press and creative industries. This is especially vital in partner countries where the EU promotes democratic values. The Joint Communication should explicitly acknowledge the strategic role of trusted media in Europes digital presence abroad. 2. Copyright and Licensing in Global Digital Trade As digital trade frameworks evolve, the EU must promote strong, enforceable copyright standards. Many global platforms continue to extract value from European news and cultural content without permission or adequate remuneration. This undermines the sustainability of independent journalism and weakens incentives for quality content creation. The EUs digital diplomacy and trade partnerships should: - Promote copyright enforcement - Support licensing markets for media and cultural content, particularly in the AI and platform economy 3. AI Governance and Content Integrity The rise of synthetic contentoften trained on copyrighted material without consentthreatens the diversity and authenticity of media ecosystems worldwide. The EPC urges the Commission to prioritise: - Transparency about datasets used to train AI models - Editorial attribution and content provenance - Protections against disinformation and deepfakes These should be central to the EUs global AI and digital standards, with appropriate enforcement. 4. A Level Playing Field for European Content European publishers face structural disadvantages when competing with dominant global platforms. The EU must address this by: - Ensuring platform accountability for content monetisation and distribution - Tackling non-EU dominance in shaping global information flows Without action, Europes cultural voice risks marginalisation in global digital spaces. 5. Partnerships with Independent Media The EPC supports efforts to build partnerships between European publishers and independent media in partner countries, including through Global Gateway and Digital Diplomacy tools. These initiatives help: - Strengthen local journalism - Bolster pluralism and democracy - Counter disinformation Such work complements internal initiatives like the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and Democracy Shield. In Conclusion: A successful external digital strategy must promote not only infrastructure and innovation, but also the freedom, diversity, and sustainability of Europes editorial and cultural sectors. Upholding media freedom, intellectual property, and independent journalism is key to projecting Europes democratic digital model abroad. We would welcome the opportunity to contribute further as this strategy evolves. Fuller version attached.
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European Publishers Council urges deforestation rule exemption for advertising inserts

13 May 2025
Message — The group requests that advertising inserts be officially excluded from deforestation due diligence requirements. They argue these materials are integral and should not require separate due diligence reporting.12
Why — This exemption would protect advertising revenue and eliminate complex administrative reporting for publishers.34
Impact — Environmental protection efforts may suffer as large volumes of paper advertising bypass strict traceability.5

Response to A Culture Compass for Europe

12 May 2025

The European Publishers Council (EPC) welcomes the initiative to develop a Culture Compass for Europe. We see this as a vital opportunity to reinforce the EUs commitment to cultural diversity, democratic values, and the integration of culture into policy frameworks. We would highlight the following: 1. The Interdependence of Culture and Media Freedom National culture and media freedom are inextricably linked. A free, independent, and pluralistic press is not only a reflection of a nation's cultural identity but also a vital contributor to its evolution. A pluralistic editorial media sector serves as a conduit for cultural expression, enabling diverse voices to be heard and fostering a shared understanding among citizens. Media freedom ensures that cultural narratives are not monolithic but encompass a spectrum of perspectives, thereby enriching the cultural fabric of societies. Conversely, a vibrant cultural landscape provides the context and content that fuel journalistic endeavors. This symbiosis is essential for a resilient democracy and an informed citizenry. 2. Media Freedom as a Catalyst for Democratic Participation Independent editorial media play a key role in democratic participation by providing accurate and diverse information. When media freedom is undermined, public engagement weakens, while democratic institutions and cultural vitality suffer. 3. Risks of Synthetic AI-Generated Content AI-generated contentoften produced without editorial control or cultural sensitivityrisks flattening cultural nuance, marginalising minority perspectives, and undermining authentic European voices. These systems typically rely on dominant language sources, which can erode the visibility of smaller cultures. To promote cultural plurality, the Culture Compass should explicitly support culturally specific, editorially governed content. 4. The Importance of Copyright and IP Rights Copyright and IP rights underpin investment in original creative work. Without them, creatorsincluding journalists and publisherslack the economic basis to produce high-quality content. Strong protections are essential to sustain Europes creative and cultural ecosystem and should be a cornerstone of the Culture Compass. 5. The Crisis in Reading and Critical Thinking Young people are increasingly disengaged from long-form journalism, books, and more complex content, undermining their ability to think critically and distinguish fact from fiction. This trend weakens media literacy and informed citizenship. The Culture Compass must address this by promoting reading and sustained engagement with diverse, high-quality content. Recommendations for the Culture Compass - Support Independent Journalism: Promote policies that ensure sustainable revenues for editorially independent media. - Foster Reading and Media Literacy: Encourage initiatives that build reading habits and critical thinking, especially among youth. - Counter Disinformation and AI Homogenisation: Address threats that weaken cultural diversity and distort public understanding. - Protect Copyright and IP Rights: Ensure that the Culture Compass promotes strong and enforceable copyright and IP protections that reward creativity and secure the sustainability of cultural and editorial production across Europe. - Encourage Cross-Sector Collaboration: Facilitate partnerships between media, cultural institutions, educators, and civil society to strengthen the cultural ecosystem. In conclusion: The EPC urges the European Commission to recognise the indispensable role of media freedom in nurturing national cultures and facilitating democratic participation. The Culture Compass must reflect the urgent need to promote a financially sustainable editorial media, uphold copyright and IP law, all which can support culturally diverse content, and rebuild a culture of critical engagementespecially among younger generations.
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Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Google and

6 May 2025 · Copyright and generative AI

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 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

European Publishers Council defends geo-blocking to protect media financing

11 Mar 2025
Message — The EPC argues geo-blocking is justified to respect territorial rights and various national rules. They claim mandatory cross-border sales for books would be unsustainable and request maintaining the audiovisual exemption.123
Why — Keeping these exemptions protects their existing financing structures and allows for country-specific distribution.45
Impact — Audiences would suffer from reduced content variety and higher prices for professional sports.67

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 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.

European Publishers Council urges EU to stop Big Tech weaponising GDPR

8 Feb 2024
Message — The EPC demands the Commission stop large platforms from using privacy rules to dominate the advertising market. They want the draft ePrivacy Regulation scrapped and replaced with a more integrated approach. They advocate for more flexibility in using legitimate interest rather than relying exclusively on user consent.123
Why — These changes would help publishers regain advertising revenue and reduce their complex administrative compliance burdens.45
Impact — Dominant tech platforms would lose the ability to dictate industry-wide privacy standards to their own advantage.6

Meeting with Alex Agius Saliba (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Partnership for Democracy

29 Mar 2023 · stakeholders meeting EMFA

Meeting with Petra Kammerevert (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Google and

9 Mar 2023 · Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

29 Sept 2022 · Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

20 Jul 2022 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

13 Jun 2022 · Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

25 May 2022 · Media Freedom Act

European Publishers Council opposes new EU media regulation

25 Mar 2022
Message — The Council opposes the European Media Freedom Act, arguing media regulation is a member state competence and the Commission already has rule of law tools. They warn against harmonizing ownership rules or imposing editorial requirements, stating consolidation provides needed investment and diversity.12345
Why — This would preserve their editorial independence and avoid new regulatory compliance costs.67
Impact — No specific harms to other groups are identified in the feedback.

Response to Transparency of political advertising

31 Jan 2022

The European Publishers Council thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to comment on the draft proposal. Please find our preliminary views attached.
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Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Nov 2021 · Artificial Intelligence

European Publishers Council seeks platform exemptions for journalistic content

31 Mar 2021
Message — Publishers request that very large online platforms be exempt from liability for professional journalistic content under editorial control. They seek measures preventing arbitrary removal of legally uploaded publisher content and protection from disproportionate obligations beyond existing editorial codes.123
Why — This would protect their content from platform takedowns and preserve editorial control.45
Impact — Platform users lose some content moderation protections if journalistic exemptions are too broad.6

European Publishers Council Demands Tougher DMA Rules for Tech Giants

26 Mar 2021
Message — The organization calls for including web browsers and voice assistants as regulated services to prevent gatekeepers from dodging the rules. They demand the removal of consent exceptions that allow platforms to combine user data for unfair advertising advantages. Additionally, they propose a mandatory arbitration system to ensure publishers are paid fairly for their content.123
Why — This would secure fair revenue for publishers and protect their advertising-funded business models.4
Impact — Large tech platforms lose the power to unilaterally impose terms on news media groups.5

Response to Transparency of political advertising

23 Feb 2021

The European Publishers Council (EPC) appreciates the opportunity given by the European Commission to submit our views on the inception impact assessment for Political Advertising. We support the Commission’s main objectives as set out in the European Democracy Action Plan, and the proposed ancillary measures such as the Regulation of Political Advertising. The European Publishers Council (EPC) is a high-level group of Chairmen and CEO’s of Europe’s leading media and publishing groups representing companies with newspapers, magazines, online publishing, journals, databases, books, eLearning, online marketplaces and radio and TV broadcasting. News media has a fundamental role in supporting democratic societies, as an independent voice that holds power to account and provides unbiased and fact-based information to citizens – a role which is especially important ahead of elections. As such the EPC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the European Commission’s inception impact assessment into Political advertising. The inception impact assessment outlines tools which we consider timely and necessary to ensure democratic, transparent, informed and widely participative elections. European citizens have the right to base their decisions on accurate information and detail from sources they can judge to be credible. We see and acknowledge the need for a European Regulation on political advertising to guarantee transparency to citizens from across all media, including through search and on social networks, which will contribute to ensuring viable democratic debate across Europe. At least 50% of money spent on political advertising and campaigning now goes to global platforms where online political advertising is largely unregulated and campaign material is not required by law to be truthful or factually accurate, or to state who is paying for it. Unregulated political advertising, and state-sponsored propaganda undermine the right of citizens to be informed and participate in democratic elections. EU voters should be granted the same transparency in online election and referendum campaigns as they get in leaflets, on posters and in the media. Social media ads and videos should carry a standard set of information showing who has created them, whether paid-for, or organic content, so voters can judge their credibility. A more detailed position paper is found enclosed to the feedback form.
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European Publishers Council demands strict rules for tech giants

30 Jun 2020
Message — The EPC calls for a new regulatory regime specifically designed for market dominant platforms. They demand full transparency in data collection and notice for algorithmic changes. The council also suggests breaking up dominant platforms to restore fair market competition.123
Why — Publishers would obtain access to subscriber data and more transparent advertising revenue.45
Impact — Large technology platforms would lose their ability to prioritize their own services.67

Response to Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation

29 Apr 2020

On the basis of an internal questionnaire sent to our members, this position paper (attached) from the European Publishers Council has been prepared for the European Commission to consider as part of their review of the General Data Protection Regulation “GDPR”, and is divided into five Parts: Part I – Introduction and Overview looking at the effects of the GDPR on news publishers and to inform the European Commission of the unintended consequences of the GDPR on news publishers and on the online advertising eco-system more widely on which they critically depend as a source of revenue. Part II – Looking Forward: Key Recommendations While the GDPR has played a major role in strengthening data protection in the EU, we have seen increasing market concentration to the detriment of smaller market participants in the ad tech ecosystem which negatively impacts news publishers. We invite the European Commission to consider and remedy the shortcomings we have identified which affect innovation and competition in the market. Part III provides our short overview of the objectives of the GDPR, the principles it enshrines and draws some conclusions from its implementation. Part IV analyses the GDPR’s unintended consequences in more detail: As will be seen, the GDPR has increased concentration in the markets in which the collection and processing of personal data is important, including in online advertising markets on which news publishers are so heavily dependent. We will also show that the GDPR and privacy considerations have been used by Google to engage in anticompetitive conduct. Part V identifies some problematic practices that the GDPR has not prevented: First, the GDPR has not prevented Google from combining the data it collects across its user-facing services (e.g., YouTube, Search, Maps) and use it for a wide variety of purposes, hence allowing what has been labelled an “internal data free-for-all”. Second, due to the narrow approach of DG Competition, the GDPR has done nothing to prevent big data mergers, which once again strengthen the position of large online platforms.
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Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

24 Apr 2020 · COVID-19 impact on news media

Meeting with Anthony Whelan (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

28 Jan 2020 · State of media sector, copyright implementation, advertising market, digital services, data

Meeting with Margrethe Vestager (Executive Vice-President)

20 Nov 2019 · Meeting on the role of competition policy

Meeting with Antoine Kasel (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Magazine Media Association and

31 Jan 2018 · The VAT for digital publications

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

14 Sept 2017 · Copyright

Meeting with Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

1 Jun 2017 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

22 May 2017 · Copyright

Meeting with Antti Timonen (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen), Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and Sanoma Corporation

1 Feb 2017 · Digital Single Market Strategy and Investment Plan for Europe

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

23 Nov 2016 · E-privacy review

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

9 Nov 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

27 Sept 2016 · Copyright

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

1 Sept 2016 · Publisher's rights / copyright

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

6 Jul 2016 · Publishers and copyright

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

30 Jun 2016 · copyright

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

30 Jun 2016 · Copyright

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner) and European Magazine Media Association and

9 Mar 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

23 Feb 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

23 Feb 2016 · Digital Single Market

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

11 Dec 2015 · DSM, copyright

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

2 Dec 2015 · copyright

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

2 Dec 2015 · AVMSD

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

2 Dec 2015 · copyright

Meeting with Grzegorz Radziejewski (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

7 Oct 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy) and

2 Sept 2015 · copyright

Meeting with Robert Madelin (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and RELX and International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers

13 Jul 2015 · DSM

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

15 Apr 2015 · Copyright / DSM

Meeting with Robert Madelin (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

30 Mar 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Adrienn Kiraly (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics) and RELX

25 Mar 2015 · Digital Single Market and Copyright

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

26 Feb 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker (President)

26 Feb 2015 · Receives CEOs of European Publisher Groups

Meeting with Martin Selmayr (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker), Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

26 Feb 2015 · Working lunch

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner), Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

26 Feb 2015 · Copyright, DSM

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

19 Feb 2015 · Publishers in the Digital Single Market

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

19 Feb 2015 · Platforms and data

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

10 Feb 2015 · Ancillary right

Meeting with Robert Madelin (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

3 Feb 2015 · Digital Single Market

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

21 Jan 2015 · Digital Single Market, copyright

Meeting with Marlene Holzner (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy)

21 Jan 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

21 Jan 2015 · Copyright

Meeting with Rodrigo Ballester (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

21 Jan 2015 · Interoperability and promotion of quality digital educational resources