The Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has adopted a draft media law in its first reading.
The final version must now be approved by the end of the year. According to the regulator National Council, a draft media law was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on July 2, 2020 but never considered by parliamentarians. However, after Ukraine acquired the status of a candidate for joining the EU, the adoption of new media legislation, which should implement the main requirements of the European directive, became an urgent necessity.
The new law should reduce the influence of private interests and introduce equal regulatory conditions for all media – television, radio, and press, as well as online media. Regulation of the entire media sphere will be carried out by a single body, namely the National Council. Its independence will be guaranteed through the procedure for appointing the regulator’s members, the economic and financial component of the regulator’s activity. Co-regulatory bodies will have a significant influence on the regulation of media content, and these same bodies will play the role of safeguards so that the media regulator does not exceed its powers.
The draft law also strengthens the protection of children in the media and provides better access to information for people with disabilities. A separate section of the law regulates clear restrictions and responsibility for promoting the content and narratives of Russia, referred to as “the aggressor state”.
The wording of the draft law on mediawill be submitted to the European Commission for processing by experts. If the European Commission has comments on the implementation of the provisions of the media directive, they will have to be taken into account before the second reading.
