site.btaJune 8 Conference in Sofia to Focus on EU Media Legislation

A conference on EU media legislation will be held in the House of Europe in Sofia on June 8. The event is expected to be attended by European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova. The organizers are the International Law and International Relations Department of the Faculty of Law of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and Bulgarian MEP Radan Kanev (EPP/Democrats for Strong Bulgaria), in partnership with the Association of European Journalists - Bulgaria.

The conference on "Media and Democracy: Challenges and Solutions in EU Legislation" will have two panels. The first one will focus on the role of the European Media Freedom Act in improving the media environment in Bulgaria. The second panel will discuss disinformation and the role of free media in protecting democracy from hidden foreign influence.

The European Media Freedom Act adopted by the European Commission in September 2022 aims to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. If adopted, the Regulation could help create a more robust and independent media environment in Bulgaria, which will provide citizens with access to reliable and balanced information, the organizers said. They argued that Bulgaria has serious problems with disinformation, which have a negative impact on democracy and the rule of law.