He who has the decisive media in his hands rules.
It is no coincidence that opponents of liberal democracy initially want to take control of the radio, the press and, of course, the judiciary.
In this respect, and with a view to Poland and Hungary, it is understandable that the EU Commission is concerned about media freedom there, and it would not be the Commission if it were not looking at the entire Union.
It's not working that bad at the moment
Admonitions to freedom are correct, but a paternalistic claim to place the diverse media regulations of the member states under European supervision by way of decrees is just as problematic.
Freedom of the press already applies in Europe;
their protection is also regulated.
New "independent bodies", as the Commission is now demanding, will not help if a member state controls the judiciary.
The previous monitoring of the behavior of member states has not worked so badly.
But the suspicion that the EU ultimately wants to decide what is good and right, what can still be said and what is no longer acceptable is inherent in a uniform European media order such as the Commission is striving for.
The states, with their very different traditions, can do that very well themselves. Especially in times of war, the freedom to put up with the opinions of others must be upheld.