The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) has submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the revision of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Published on Thursday, 4 June 2026, the document places particular emphasis on the protection of children in the digital environment, especially against exposure to violence and pornography. Read the Contribution
The document highlights the risks of ‘virtualisation’ of human relations and child addiction to Internet and new technologies. In this context, COMECE calls on the European Union to:
- reinforce the Directive’s provisions on protection of minors;
- preserve explicit references to safeguarding minors’ moral development;
- continue to identify gratuitous violence and pornography as the most harmful content for minors;
- highlight the pivotal role of parenthood in the context of child protection.
In light of the growing preference among minors for content accessed through video-sharing platform services over content provided by traditional media, the COMECE contribution recommends that the European Commission assess the effectiveness and clarity of the regulatory framework applicable to such platforms.
COMECE also stresses the need to introduce a ban on any content inciting to self-harm, in particular targeting minors and to clarify EU audiovisual provisions covering social media.
Concerning incitement to violence and hatred, the COMECE contribution supports the current positive legal framework. The contribution emphasises that the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to freedom of expression and information should be rigorously respected.
COMECE welcomes the Directive’s recognition of the specific nature of religious programmes and broadcasts of religious services. It also welcomes the promotion of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity enshrined in the Directive, while stressing the need to strike a balance between these objectives and the preservation of the identity and spiritual heritage of each EU Member State.
The next legislative steps concerning EU audiovisual media services legislation will be followed with priority attention by the COMECE Secretariat.
Read and download the Contribution
