Estonia: No need for state to regulate Estonian media: Interior Minister

Estonia’s Minister of Interior, Lauri Läänemets (SDE), does not support the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority’s (TTJA) proposal to begin monitoring media bias in news programmes, ERR reports. The ministry’s media adviser, Andres Jõesaar, rejected the idea as well. Speaking on ETV’s “Aktuaalne Kaamera,” Jõesaar stated that there was no problem that required such…

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Estonia: Editorials criticise proposed state control of free press

Estonia’s daily newspapers, Eesti Päevaleht and Postimees, strongly criticised in their editorials on 5 July 2023 the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority’s (TTJA) proposed legislation to monitor the truthfulness, impartiality, and balance of news programmes, ERR reports. Both editorials strongly rejected the notion of state intervention in media, emphasising the importance of media freedom…

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Estonia: Media association opposes TTJA’s proposal on media regulation

The Estonian Association of Media Enterprises (EML) strongly opposes a proposal for the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) to function as an independent media regulator for the entire media market, ERR reports. The Ministry of Culture has shared the draft proposal with over 40 organisations and institutions, seeking their feedback. EML emphasised…

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Estonia: Latvian regulator approves Cristella merger with Eesti Pagar

Latvia’s Competition Council has allowed Estonian investment company Dragad to merge into Estonia-based holding Maral Invest, Baltic News Network reports. Following the merger, Dragad will be removed from the commercial register. Dragad’s Estonian subsidiary, Võru-based Cristella VT, produces various bakery products. Maral Invest owns three major bakeries in the Baltic states: Estonia’s Eesti Pagar, Latvia’s…

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Estonia: Consumer watchdog wants to regulate news programmes

Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) has proposed legislation to ensure that media service providers uphold balanced and impartial reporting in news programmes, ERR reports. Currently, Estonian media service providers are subject to license supervision, but there is no provisional control for foreign channels. TTJA plans to consult with other state agencies, including…

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