The ECREA Communication Law and Policy Workshop was hosted by imec-SMIT at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel on 18 and 19 September 2025, and organised by Tim Raats, Heritiana Ranaivoson, and Adelaida Afilipoaie. The event brought together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the evolving intersections between media regulation, digital platforms, and public service media in Europe.
The first day opened with a keynote address by Professor Peggy Valcke (Vice-Director of CiTiP, KU Leuven; Executive Board Member, BIPT), who reflected on the challenges of platform governance and regulatory accountability in a converging digital environment. The second day concluded with an inspiring keynote by Prof. Karen Donders (Director of Public Value, Talent & Organisation, VRT), who discussed the future of public value in European media ecosystems and the responsibilities of public broadcasters in the age of digital transformation.
Across seven thematic panels, participants engaged with a range of pressing topics shaping contemporary media policy. Early sessions examined platform governance and the Digital Services Act (DSA), offering insights into systemic risk assessments, algorithmic accountability, and compliance enforcement. Subsequent discussions turned to sector-specific digital policy challenges, including artificial intelligence regulation, digital radio transitions, and the socio-economic implications of satellite broadband technologies.
A strong focus on European media pluralism and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) ran throughout the programme, highlighting debates around ownership transparency, platform dependence, and regulatory gaps in state media oversight. The second day placed particular emphasis on public service media (PSM), featuring comparative analyses of audience engagement, editorial impartiality, and strategies of due prominence and platform discoverability. The workshop underscored the shared ambition to advance a balanced, pluralistic, and accountable media ecosystem in Europe—one that supports democratic values while adapting to the realities of global digital markets.