Right to information: RSF urges the European Commission to deliver on its promises
As the new European Commission prepares to take office on 1 December, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on President Ursula von der Leyen and her team to uphold their commitments to guarantee a reliable information framework, protect our free press, and combat disinformation and foreign interference. In an increasingly polarised political context, it is vital for the European Union to prioritise safeguarding the right to information and protecting journalists.
The European Parliament’s approval of the new College of Commissioners on 27 Wednesday November paves the way for the Commission to take office on 1 December. This decision comes amid a political, economic, and international climate marked by growing challenges to press freedom. In her July address to the European Parliament, President von der Leyen pledged to guarantee a “reliable information framework,” “protect our free press,” and “combat disinformation and foreign interference.”
These commitments are crucial to conserving the Union’s democratic integrity. RSF calls on the new Commission — especially the members charged with matters related to press freedom, namely Executive Vice President for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Henna Virkkunen, and Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law Michael McGrath — to take bold measures to defend citizens' right to reliable information and make these pledges a top priority.
“To combat today’s informational chaos, European citizens must have access to reliable, independent information. The European Union must lead by example in protecting press freedom and regulating digital actors that threaten the integrity of our public space. Only through strong and decisive action can Europe rise to today’s democratic challenges. The new European Commission must deliver on its promises.
RSF warns that initiatives favouring innovation and economic interests risk overriding the regulation of tech giants and support for independent media. It urges the Commission to champion a new European ambition to better defend press freedom and ensure the right to reliable information, as outlined in RSF’s “New Deal for the Right to Information.”
Among the top priorities, RSF calls on the Commission to accelerate the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) with determination and firmness. These tools should be used to limit the spread of disinformation, better protect journalists, support independent media, and prevent foreign actors from manipulating information.
In addition, as authoritarian regimes invest heavily in targeted disinformation campaigns, the EU must adopt other ambitious measures to counter these threats. RSF specifically calls for the establishment of a system to protect the EU’s information space, support for exiled media and journalists, and increased access to reliable sources of information in authoritarian countries. Finally, imposing an obligation on platforms to amplify reliable sources of information will safeguard users’ right to information, fight disinformation, and enhance media sustainability. Making this a priority is essential.
