Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has unanimously approved a new media law

The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies has passed a new media law. The bill was supported by 53 MPs; there were no votes against it. A key change is the granting of an official right of access to information held by state and local authorities to professional journalists. According to a statement issued following the vote, this move legally recognises the vital role of the professional press in a democratic society.

In practice, the new mechanism obliges government bodies not only to provide specific answers to requests, but also to assist journalists in locating the necessary documents. At the same time, government departments must inform media representatives in advance of the estimated timeframe for preparing a response. In cases where the requested materials contain confidential information, the law permits sensitive sections to be redacted before the documents are handed over.

Alongside expanding the right of access to information, the document amends the 2021 law governing the system of financial support for the press. In future, state subsidies will be subject to indexation, and the maximum limits for certain types of funding will increase. Small media projects will be eligible for support under the ‘de minimis’ rule — a form of limited state aid permitted under European Union regulations without the need to undergo the full approval procedure.

At the same time, the law introduces a stricter classification of media representatives. To obtain an official press card, an applicant must confirm that journalism is their main occupation and that they have at least three months’ continuous experience in this field. Furthermore, the legislation establishes that the profession of journalism is directly incompatible with any activity related to advertising.