Brussels, 16 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The European Union is stepping up efforts to safeguard media freedom and editorial independence.

The European Parliament and EU member states announced a provisional agreement on Friday that will introduce measures to protect journalists and media providers from political interference, while also making it easier for them to operate across the EU's internal borders.

The measures include banning states from using "coercive measures" to obtain information about journalists' sources, except in specified cases, and broadening transparency requirements of media ownership and government advertising.

There will also be clearer rules on the relationship between media companies and large online platforms such as Facebook's parent company Meta or Google.

Spanish Minister for Culture Ernest Urtasun Domènech said democracy could not exist without media freedom, independence and plurality.

"Today's agreement confirms the EU's position as a world leader in protecting journalists, guaranteeing the independence of media providers, and ensuring that citizens have access to a wide and diverse range of reliable news sources."

Sabine Verheyen, a member of Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) who sits in the European Parliament, said the agreement was a "significant milestone" for media freedom.

After the plan has been formally endorsed by the European Parliament and EU states, it will be adopted by both in the spring of 2024.

Photo: MIA archive