Euronews: A Network in Crisis – Ownership and Editorial Independence at Risk
In 2021, BFMI sounded the alarm with an open letter to the European Commission, highlighting the troubling direction Euronews was taking, particularly with its questionable franchise sales in the Balkans. The Commission’s responses, both then and now, remain vague and unsatisfactory. The recent editorial changes have prompted BFMI to once again call on the Commission to conduct a thorough review before providing any further support to Euronews.
For decades, Euronews was seen as the voice of Europe—a beacon of pan-European news and journalistic integrity. But today, that perception has become a mirage, as mounting concerns over ownership and editorial independence cast a long shadow over the network’s future. What was once envisioned as Europe’s global news outlet has now fallen into the hands of private interests, whose motives appear more political than journalistic.
Since 2015, nearly 90% of Euronews has been owned by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, a figure whose involvement in European media has long raised eyebrows. This shift from public to private control was worrying enough, but in 2021, the situation became even more alarming. Sawiris handed over control to Pedro Vargas David, the CEO of Alpac Capital—a firm based in Portugal but with unmistakable ties to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This move should have set off alarm bells in Brussels where the network has moved from Lion
Yet, the European Commission, which had been financially supporting Euronews to the tune of €20 million to €23 million annually, seemed reluctant to confront the uncomfortable truth: one of Europe’s few pan-continental media networks was now largely in the hands of figures whose political connections could not be ignored. And as of July 2024, that financial support, which helped bolster Euronews’ reputation, came to an end.
The sale of Euronews to Alpac Capital raised serious questions about editorial independence. The close relationship between Pedro Vargas David and his father, Mario David—a trusted advisor to Orbán—was impossible to overlook. Media experts began to question whether this was truly a business move or a calculated political investment aimed at controlling a critical European platform. After all, controlling the narrative is a powerful tool in shaping public opinion across borders.
These suspicions were further fueled by the appointment of Claus Strunz as Euronews’ new CEO. Strunz, with his history at the tabloid Bild and his open support for Germany’s far-right AfD, represents a sharp departure from the network’s original ethos. The abrupt firing of former CEO Guillaume Dubois only added to the sense that editorial policies at Euronews were shifting in a direction dictated by political, not journalistic, priorities.
Strunz has insisted that his focus is on journalism, not politics, but the reality speaks differently. His track record at Bild and his ideological leanings are hardly compatible with the notion of objective, balanced reporting that Euronews once represented. This editorial shift has prompted Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) to once again ask the European Commission to account for its continued involvement with Euronews.
Last week, the European Commission acknowledged that its financial support has dropped to €11 million per year, now subject to a competitive public tender process. Still, the Commission insists that Euronews remains committed to upholding the highest journalistic standards, including maintaining editorial independence. But how credible is this claim when the network’s leadership is so deeply intertwined with political figures who thrive on controlling the media?
At a time when trust in media is plummeting and independent journalism is under threat across Europe, the fate of Euronews should be a cause for concern for every European citizen. Public broadcasters across the continent, once aligned with Euronews, have quietly distanced themselves. Their logos remain, but their influence does not. Euronews, in its current form, risks becoming nothing more than a political mouthpiece masquerading as an independent network.
The European Commission cannot afford to be evasive any longer. It must conduct a thorough review of Euronews before committing any further support. The public has the right to know whether their tax money is being used to fund a network that serves private political interests instead of the public good.
Euronews’ future hangs in the balance. Will it remain a beacon of European journalism, or will it fall victim to political influence? The Commission has a duty to ensure that European citizens receive unbiased, independent news, not propaganda shaped by a handful of powerful individuals. If Euronews is to survive as a credible news outlet, it must return to its roots—free from political interference, and committed to the highest standards of journalism.
BFMI asks the EC to conduct a very careful review before granting support.
