The second study visit of Ukrainian experts took place in Paris as part of the Twinning project, which is being implemented with the participation of the National Council and regulators from France, Italy, Germany and Greece. The initiative, launched in Rome in February 2025, is a continuation of active cooperation and exchange of experience in the field of media regulation.
Arcom, the French media regulator, conducted a comprehensive three-day program that was focused on key areas of implementation of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
The program covered the main aspects of media regulation, including:
- media licensing and registration,
- protection of the rights of minors in the media,
- countering hate speech,
- adaptation of regulatory approaches to digital transformations.
Special attention was paid to issues of information security and the fight against disinformation, especially in the context of resisting Russian propaganda efforts.
At the opening, welcoming speeches were delivered by Francesco Sciacchitano (Twinning Project Leader), Marten Azhari (Chairman of the French media regulator Arcom) and Yevhen Perelygin (CEO of the National Council), who joined the event online.
“We stand with Ukraine, which is fighting for freedom, sovereignty, and democracy. And within our competence, we are doing everything possible to support it in the information war. We have already stopped broadcasting several Russian TV channels in France, and this work is ongoing,” the head of Arcom emphasized. He also highlighted the need to consolidate efforts in the fight against fake news and information threats.
“The Twinning project is not only about sharing experiences, but also about building strong partnerships. We are happy to be in Paris not only to represent our own achievements, but also to gain practical knowledge: from working with monitoring and licensing software to mechanisms to combat hate speech. I am confident that such cooperation will help us better prepare for the challenges facing the Ukrainian media space,” Yevhen Perelygin, Chief of Staff of the National Council, addressed the participants.
The regulators’ strategic vision in the digital era
The first day of the visit was dedicated to a working session on “Regulatory Strategies in the Media Sector”. Participants explored comprehensively the approaches of European authorities to strategic planning, the formation of internal structures, and preparation of documents that determine the development of regulatory policy in the context of digital transformation.
Frederic Bocobza represented in detail the model for developing strategic documents for Arcom as a unified regulator of audiovisual and digital content.
Representatives of the German media regulator DLM, Dr. Meike Isenberg and Henrike Gudat, focused on a strategic approach to planning. They spoke about the importance of transparency, accountability, and open communication in the work of modern regulatory authorities.
The day concluded with a productive discussion on the role of analytics in regulatory practice. Italian experts shared insights into the strategic approaches of the media regulator Agcom, and raised important issues regarding audience research, market change forecasting, information risk assessment, and the impact of media content on society.
Oksana Prykhodko, Chief Specialist of the Directorate of Control, Analysis, Strategic and Regional Development of the National Council, presented the Ukrainian media regulator’s strategy and reported on its functioning in 2024.
Media licensing in the EU: practices, approaches, prospects
The central topic of the second study day was a discussion of approaches to media licensing in France, Germany, and Italy.
French colleagues presented in detail the national radio and television licensing procedures, focusing on checks on the ownership structure, compliance with transparency requirements, and prevention of excessive concentration in the market.
German experts focused on the specifics of their licensing system. They paid special attention to the requirement for streamers with a large audience. According to German law, authors who broadcast content online (for example, on the Twitch platform) and have more than 20 thousand viewers are recognized as broadcasters and are subject to licensing.
Experts from the Italian media regulator presented a series of practical aspects pertaining to the authorisation of media services. Mr. Roberto de Martino shared his extensive experience of procedural decisions and regulatory oversight at Agcom, particularly with regard to digital platforms.
Dmytro Kardash and Oleh Karamushka, representatives of the National Council, informed their colleagues more thoroughly about the features of licensing and registration in Ukraine. Also, their presentations were focused on the current challenges of implementing an electronic cabinet and the register of media entities, as well as the features of its launch during martial law.
On that same day, the second meeting of the Steering Committee was convened, with the Twinning Project Leader, Francesco Sciacchitano, extending a cordial welcome to the participants. The meeting summarised the results of the initial phase of collaboration and approved the subjects to be addressed in subsequent meetings. A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the interim report by Mrs. Maddalena Zambuco, the RTA of the Twinning project. In addition to this, she also presented the official website of the project. Participants reviewed key achievements, evaluated interim results, provided feedback and established subsequent actions.
Monitoring, artificial intelligence, and the protection of minors
The third day of the study visit was focused on issues of media content monitoring, child protection in the online environment, and regulation of the information space during elections.
Of particular interest was the presentation of German colleagues, who presented the innovative KIVI system – a program that uses artificial intelligence to automatically detect prohibited and illegal content in Germany. Over almost five years of operation, the system has already analyzed more than 50,000 cases of violations, and appropriate response measures have been applied in each of them.
The French side shared its experience in the field of child protection on the Internet, in particular, the practice of implementing a national guideline on child safety online and annual social campaigns aimed at raising awareness among parents, children, and educators.
The Italian colleagues focused their attention on the subject of election monitoring. Francesco Marazzo, an expert in the field, presented detailed approaches that enable the effective recording of violations and ensure equal access to the media for political forces during election campaigns. He emphasised the importance of clear criteria for evaluating media content, prompt response to recorded violations, and transparent monitoring methods. This approach ensures objective and fair coverage of the electoral process, thereby increasing trust in the media and democratic procedures in general.
Ihor Tymofieiev, Analyst of the Directorate of Control, Analysis, Strategic and Regional Development of the National Council, spoke about the peculiarities and challenges that the Ukrainian media regulator faces when monitoring the media space.
The National Council monitors and responds to the distribution of prohibited content using similar approaches, including anonymous resources that have media features. Ihor Tymofieiev also pointed out the difficulties in regulating websites that distribute pornography: many platforms ignore the regulator’s appeals or do not accept its decisions. The authority is searching for additional tools of influence and opportunities for constructive partnership in these circumstances.
The importance of adapting Ukrainian experience to European standards in the field of protection of vulnerable groups, including children, was also discussed.
Three intensive days in Paris allowed Ukrainian professionals not only to get a deeper understanding of European regulatory mechanisms, but also to see specific practical tools that can be used in Ukraine.
The knowledge gained will become the basis for further steps within the Twinning project and will help move further towards the European regulatory model.
