The level of regulatory complexity in Europe has reached its limit. A new legal framework is needed that is coherent and sustainable, and that protects diversity, enables innovation, and safeguards democratic public discourse. This was the conclusion reached at the 15th Hamburg Media Symposium on June 12, 2025, at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Around 200 interested parties and experts in media law, media economics, media policy, and media research gathered to discuss the impact of current European media regulations on the German media system. The focus was on the regulatory leeway remaining at the national and regional levels and its implications for the media industry and democratic public discourse.
The event “Vom europäischen Konzert zum Solo aus Brüssel?” [From European Concert to Brussels’ Solo?] was held in German. Its recording can be found online here.
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz, Director of the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), moderated the event. He emphasized that national legislators can only ensure regional diversity if there is sufficient leeway at the European level. Otherwise, they may not be able to effectively protect regional or local providers. This central issue has not yet been adequately addressed by lawmakers.
The 15th Hamburg Media Symposium was organized by the HBI, the Media Authority Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein (MA HSH), and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. The symposium was recorded by TIDE – Hamburg’s citizen and educational channel. The presentations and panel discussion will be broadcast on July 7 and 8 as part of TIDE’s program and will be available on TIDE’s YouTube channel.
Impulses: Media Regulation, Media Economics, and Media Use between Unity and Diversity
Following the welcome address by Michaela Beck, the managing director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, four keynote speeches were presented, focusing on media law, media economics, and communication science. The speeches examined the extent to which uniform legal standards sought by the EU conflict with the identities and specific characteristics of its member states and their media systems. What scope remains for national media regulation? What options and solutions are available to preserve diversity? How interconnected is the European media industry? And how diverse is media use in Europe?
Dr. Tobias Mast, Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), showed that European media and communications law is grappling with the tension between unity and diversity on many levels. He illustrated this conflict using the distribution of powers between the EU and its member states, the structure of European regulations, and the protection of fundamental rights and its impact on German media federalism.
Ass. iur. Christina Etteldorf of the Scientific Institute for European Media Law (EMR) clearly illustrated the complexity, number, and diversity of the interfaces between European and national communications regulation. According to Ettendorff, the challenge lies in striking the right balance between meaningful separation and connection, both in terms of content and enforcement.
Prof. Dr. Josef Trappel of the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg emphasized that digital platforms are far more concentrated than the traditional media industry and made it clear that the central question is, “How much digital networking can our civil society, our democracy, and our community tolerate?” From a democratic perspective, he deemed the degree of networking in the European media industry worrisome for the media sector and civil society.
Prof. Dr. Judith Möller of the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI) used empirical data to discuss the state of diversity in information-oriented media use in Europe. She also explained why this diversity is socially relevant and how social media use and algorithmic selection processes are changing it. Considering the use of digitalization and artificial intelligence in news selection, Möller noted that diversity is under disproportionate pressure in some parts of Europe.
Panel Discussion: Who Sets the Tone in Media Policy?
The second part of the event began with a video greeting from Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). This was followed by a discussion moderated by Dr. Felix W. Zimmermann, Editor-in-Chief of Legal Tribune Online, between Eva-Maria Sommer, Director of the Media Authority Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Stefan Ottlitz, Managing Director of the Spiegel Group, and Alexander Natt, LL.M., Head of the Media Department at the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Eva-Maria Sommer warned that media diversity is increasingly under pressure from disinformation, algorithmic opacity, and polarizing platform mechanisms. In addition, numerous EU regulations are stifling diversity, according to Sommer. They make it considerably more difficult for member states to intervene in a positive way and lead to great uncertainty about which regulations can actually be applied and enforced. Despite their correct objectives, these regulations led to legal uncertainty in practice and restricted national scope for action. However, media diversity was not an abstract value, but came into being in concrete terms at the local level – and must also be able to be shaped there. This required flexible guidelines, clear responsibilities, and a self-confident approach by member states with their regulatory leeway.
The participants emphasized the importance of dialogue between publishers and AI platforms, as well as regulation that leaves room for innovation for media companies. “Publishers and tech platforms can only tap into the potential of AI to strengthen an informed society by working together. This requires dialogue, cooperation, and regulation that creates transparency and fairness without blocking innovation,” said Stefan Ottlitz.
The symposium showed that regulatory complexity in Europe has reached its limits. A coherent, long-term legal framework is needed that protects diversity, enables innovation, and safeguards democratic public discourse.
You can find the program of the event here
Extended Event: Chamber of Commerce Media Connect
For the first time, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce organized the “Chamber of Commerce Media Connect” on the same day – a dialogue forum for media entrepreneurs. The focus here was also on how European regulatory processes affect economic freedom.
Dr. Christian Heise, Hamburg Media School, spoke about how creative talent can be trained amid AI, platform economics, and social upheaval, and how Hamburg can be strengthened as a media location in Europe. In another keynote speech, Stefan Ottlitz provided insights into how media companies are developing new business models between AI, platforms, and political extremes.
Photo: Hamburg Chamber of Commerce/Ulrich Perrey; from left: Prof. Dr. Josef Trappel, Alexander Natt, LL.M., Eva-Maria Sommer, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz, Prof. Dr. Judith Möller, Stefan Ottlitz, Dr. Tobias Mast, Ass. iur. Christina Etteldorf, Dr. Felix W. Zimmermann