Verband Freier Rundfunk Österreich
Der Verband Freier Rundfunk Österreich ist die Interessenvertretung der Community Broadcaster in Österrreich, wobei sich Freie Radios und Community TVs durch ihre Gemeinnützigkeit, den Offenen Zugang der Bevölkerung zum Programm und Werbefreiheit auszeichnen.
ID: 898973212735-08
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Civil Society Strategy
1 Sept 2025
Strengthening Democratic Participation and Media Pluralism: The Essential Role of Community Media in the EU Civil Society Strategy Introduction We welcome the European Commissions public consultation on the new EU Civil Society Strategy aimed at enhancing democratic participation, rule of law, and human rights by supporting a resilient and inclusive civic space. As the Association of Austrian Community Broadcasters (Verband Freier Rundfunk Österreich VFRÖ), we are committed to advancing these objectives through the promotion of community media as a cornerstone of pluralistic media ecosystems. 1. Community Media as a Pillar of Civic Engagement and Democratic Resilience In a climate of disengagement from representative democracy, low-threshold co-creation spaces are vital. Non-commercial community mediaconstituting the third sector alongside public service and commercial mediaplay a unique role in fostering participation, media literacy, and human rights awareness across both rural and urban contexts. 2. Inclusive Infrastructure and Access The Charter of the Community Broadcasters in Austria (Charta des Freien Rundfunks Österreich) underscores the importance of open access: community media must remain independent, non-commercial, and available to allincluding marginalized groups seldom represented in mainstream media. 3. Bridging Local and European Civic Voice The project within MeDeMAP Mapping Media for Future Democracies demonstrates how participatory tools like Citizens Councils can effectively channel citizen-generated proposals into policymaking across national and EU levels (medemap.eu, mirovni-institut.si, Bürger*innenrat Medien und Demokratie). 4. Addressing Funding Inequality and Structural Constraints A recent audit by the Austrian Court of Auditors confirms that 73 % of media funding goes to only ten large media groups, marginalizing independent, community-oriented providers. This is alarming, especially during democratic backsliding and media concentration. We urge that the Civil Society Strategy integrate structural support and fair funding mechanisms ensuring community medias longevity and impact. 5. Aligning with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) While the EMFA is a welcome legislative effort, it insufficiently addresses the specific needs of civil society and community media. We propose that the Civil Society Strategy be developed in tandem with the EMFA to guarantee comprehensive support for pluralism and independent media. 6. Enhancing Civil Societys Engagement in EU Policy Civil society actors - especially at the local level - are often overwhelmed by resource constraints and cannot adequately participate in European-level discourse. Additionally, they face increasing pressure from populist and anti-democratic groups. The Strategy must therefore include low-threshold legal and financial mechanisms that bolster both project-based initiatives and structural capacity-building, as well as networking opportunities across borders. Conclusion We strongly support the EU Civil Society Strategy and call for its alignment with media pluralism goals. Community media are indispensable to civic engagement, democratic education, and inclusive representation. We look forward to continuing to contribute our experience to co-design a strategy that strengthens democratic resilience across the EU.
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