European Federation of Magazine Publishers

The European Magazine Media Association is a non-profit organization based in Brussels, Belgium that represents 15,000 publishers throughout Europe publishing over 50,000 magazine titles in Europe.

WWW Official Site

Overview

EMMA's mission is to protect and promote the interests of European magazine publishers vis-à-vis the Institutions of the European Union: the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council. The main aim of EMMA is to ensure a long-term survival and prosperity of a plural, diverse and economically successful magazine publishing industry in the EU.
EMMA defends freedom of expression, promotes pluralism and diversity, and ensures that Europe's periodical press industry remains competitive and vibrant. It supports self-regulatory mechanisms, backed up by an equitable and balanced legal framework. EMMA points out that the freedom of commercial communication is an integral part of the overall principle of freedom of expression. Commercial communications are the life-blood of the majority of periodical publications.
, EMMA's membership is composed of 21 national associations of magazine publishers and 16 corporate publishing companies in Europe. Altogether EMMA represents over 15,000 publishers publishing over 50,000 magazine titles throughout Europe.

Mission statement

EMMA's mission is "to promote and protect the interests of publishers of the periodical press within the European Union thus ensuring the long-term survival and prosperity of a plural, diverse and economically successful magazine publishing industry in the EU".

History

The European representation of magazine publishers was founded in 1988 in Brussels under the French name "Federation des associations d'editeurs de periodiques de la C.E.E.", which originally was abbreviated to FAEP. The goal of the association was, in close collaboration with its members and the authorities of the EEC, to study the regulations governing the activity of periodical publishers, mediate the relations between publishers, the EEC and member states, and to work to maintain the freedom to disseminate information, ideas and knowledge.
The name changed to European Federation of Magazine Publishers around 1993, when the EEC became the EU.
In October 2011, FAEP transitioned to EMMA, the European Magazine Media Association. However, despite the change in name and aesthetics, the main goals set down in 1988 remain. Today, EMMA defends freedom of expression, thus promoting pluralism and diversity, and ensures that Europe's periodical press industry remains competitive and vibrant. Moreover, EMMA supports self-regulatory mechanisms, backed by an equitable and balanced legal framework. EMMA also consistently points out that the freedom of commercial communication is an integral part of the overall principle of freedom of expression, since commercial communications are the life-blood of the majority of periodical publications.

President

Xavier Bouckaert is President of EMMA and has held the position since September 2017. Xavier has been actively involved in EMMA as the Chairman of its Corporate Advisory Group and as EMMA Board Member between 2013 and 2017.
Xavier has been CEO at Roularta Media Group IV since January 7, 2016. Before, he has been the Chief Operating Officer for Roularta Media Group NV since December 2009 and serves as Director of Magazines since 2009. Mr. Bouckaert joined RMG in 2005 as a Company Lawyer and Coordinator of Controlling. He is a Licentiate in Law and Civil-Law Notary.

Secretariat

Executive Director

Ilias Konteas is the Executive Director of the European Magazine Media Association, as of October 2018. Ilias has a legal background with a specialization in European law, including European media law. Before joining EMMA he spent 16 years at BUSINESSEUROPE, in charge of intellectual property issues.

EU Affairs Senior Manager

Joy De Looz-Corswarem joined EMMA in September 2016 as EU Affairs Manager. She holds an LL.M. degree in European law from Maastricht University and has been working in the copyright field before joining EMMA.

Head of Legal and Policy

Ariane joined EMMA in January 2020 as Head of Legal and Policy. Prior to joining the publishing sector, Ariane worked for the European organisation representing groups and cooperatives of independent retailers, following inter alia digital, internal market, consumer law dossiers with a focus on competition issues, her passion. She holds a Master’s degree in European law from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Junior European Affairs Manager

Vanessa De Palma joined EMMA in September 2019 and has been working as Junior European Affairs Manager for the association since March 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of Trieste and a Master’s Degree in Political Economy of European Integration at HWR Berlin.

Relevant EU Policy Initiatives

Advertising

Freedom to communicate commercially is a part of freedom of speech. It is often claimed that consumers must be protected through regulation on advertising for food, alcohol, medicines, toys, cars, etc.; bans and restrictions on the advertising of everyday products that every consumer can access freely in the EU will not be accepted by publishers.

Applicable law

Publishers require legal certainty, as regards defamation and private rights issues, in an age of more cross-border sales and the global nature of the internet. Country of origin is the only solution.

Freedom of expression

Freedom of Expression is the basis for Freedom of the Press, and consequently a central pillar of a publisher's raison d'être. FAEP defends the freedom of expression, thus promoting pluralism and diversity and ensuring that Europe's periodical press sector remains free.

Intellectual Property

Publishers encourage adequate protection and reward for those who invest in creativity. Therefore, the enforcement of copyright and strong enforcement of anti-piracy laws and introduction of the work for hire principle across the EU is supported by the periodical press.

Information society

Regulation that promotes the development of the digital economy, and does not thwart innovation, provides the right framework for a prospering publishing sector in the EU. Publishers demand technology neutral and level playing field as regards data use and protection.

VAT (EU VAT)

Publishers reject the taxation of reading. A literate and informed population is vital to a "knowledge society". The costs of illiteracy outweighs the revenues raised by taxing reading.

EMMA publication

EMMA published a biennial magazine entitled Empowering Citizens, no longer mentioned on the FIPP Web site, with articles about the role of magazines in society.

Awards

In 2008, European Federation of Magazine Publishers won the European Public Affairs Award.