Source: European Parliament
The Commission does not have an overview of media supported by US organisations and has no authority to ask funders or their beneficiaries to share that information.
The EU has taken several measures to safeguard media independence and prevent undue influence from third countries. The provisions of the European Media Freedom Act[1], applicable from 8 August 2025, establish transparency requirements for media ownership and state advertising revenues, including from third-country public authorities or entities.
They also mandate that public funds for state advertising in media or supply or service contracts with media be allocated using transparent, proportionate, and non-discriminatory criteria.
The Commission also co-finances the Media Pluralism Monitor[2] and a media ownership monitoring project[3]. However, these measures do not include monitoring of external funding.
The Commission has no detailed information on the extent to which foreign subsidies received by EU media and journalists are subject to income tax in their country of residence. Support to the press and the media often takes the form of tax credits or lower VAT rates, irrespective of the source of income.
Such taxation falls within the competence of Member States, who have the right to design and organise their own tax systems, provided they abide by the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.