The AVMD Directive, the Digital Omnibus, and the Future of Media Regulation

The European Commission has announced a revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and, at the same time, launched a “Digital Omnibus” to streamline and enhance the coherence of existing digital regulations. These steps, along with current discussions, touch on key issues in media regulation in Europe: How can a level playing field be ensured between media providers and platforms? What role do media pluralism, discoverability, and the protection of minors play in the digital environment? And how can regulatory coherence and effective oversight be ensured? The panel brings together diverse perspectives from politics, regulation, the media industry, and platforms. Together, the participants will discuss current reform proposals at the European level, their impact on the media sector, and the expectations of various stakeholders regarding the future shape of the European legal framework. The discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges posed by the planned reforms, as well as the question of what a sustainable European media regulatory framework might look like in a media ecosystem increasingly shaped by platforms and AI.