Resolution on the attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania

The European Parliament adopted by 385 votes to 165, with 35 abstentions, a resolution on the attempted takeover of Lithuanias public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, and The Left groups.

Parliament affirmed that free, independent and pluralistic media constitutes one of the essential pillars of democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights within the EU. It stressed the central role of public service media in providing impartial information, countering disinformation, holding those in power accountable, and ensuring informed democratic participation, provided that their editorial and institutional independence is fully protected.

Context

Members are particularly concerned about the situation in Lithuania, where recent political and legislative initiatives target the national public broadcaster (LRT). Following the 2024 elections, tensions arose between the political authorities and the LRT, notably after journalistic investigations that led to the Prime Minister's resignation in 2025. Although a public audit concluded that the LRT was generally managed effectively and transparently, its findings have been selectively used to justify increased pressure, repeated inspections, and political attacks.

The resolution condemns the amendments to the Lithuanian Broadcasting Corporation (LRT) law adopted by the Lithuanian Parliament at the end of 2025, which permanently freeze the LRT's budget and lower the safeguards protecting the dismissal of its leadership, thereby increasing the risk of political interference. These reforms were implemented hastily, without adequate consultation, sparking strong criticism from national and international organisations, warnings about the risk of corruption, and significant public mobilisation and journalists' strikes.

Parliament reiterated its responsibility to act decisively when systemic risks to democracy, the rule of law and media freedom arise within the EU. In its 2025 Rule of Law Report, the Commission issued country-specific recommendations to Lithuania, calling for continued efforts to strengthen the independence, stable funding and transparent governance of public service media, including safeguards against political influence in appointment and dismissal procedures.

Recommendations

Recognising the essential role of public media in upholding the Unions values and in countering disinformation, Members stressed that weakening independent media ecosystems significantly weakens democratic accountability, facilitates disinformation and corruption, and erodes citizens ability to hold those in power to account. Attempts to polarise society, weaken trust in democratic institutions and undermine independent media ecosystems serve the objectives of the hybrid warfare waged by Russia and other hostile powers against the EU and its Member States.

Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to recognise investigative journalism as a core component of democratic resilience and expressed full solidarity with Lithuanian journalists, LRT and civil society actors defending media freedom, including the institutional and editorial independence of LRT.

Members condemned all attempts to undermine the independence of LRT, including legislative and administrative measures and political pressure aimed at acquiring political control over LRT. They consider that the freezing and reduction of LRTs funding, in the absence of objective economic necessity, constitute political pressure incompatible with constitutional guarantees and the European Media Freedom Act.

According to Members, the proposed amendments to lower the safeguards for the early dismissal of LRT's director general risk enabling arbitrary political interference and are incompatible with both constitutional guarantees and EU standards for public service media independence. The use of accelerated legislative procedures for these amendments lacks objective and constitutionally justified grounds, fails to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and the meaningful participation of key stakeholders and civil society, and falls short of the requirements of a transparent, accountable, inclusive and democratic lawmaking procedure inherent in the principle of the rule of law and European best practice for the lawmaking process.

The following is requested of the Seimas and the Lithuanian government:

- to reject the pending amendments, including those that lower the threshold for the dismissal of the LRT's director general;

- to minimise political influence in the formation of the LRT Council;

- to refrain from adopting and repealing already adopted legislative measures and budgetary frameworks that undermine the independence of the LRT and to ensure stable, predictable and adequate funding for it.

Parliament called on:

- the Commission monitor any developments concerning media freedom and public service media independence in Lithuania, to assess the compliance of the adopted and pending amendments with the European Media Freedom Act and the principle of the rule of law, to inform the Lithuanian authorities accordingly, and to use all tools, including infringement procedures and the EUs Rule of Law Toolbox, in the case of non-compliance;

- Lithuanian authorities to reinforce broad and transparent consultations with civil society, media professionals and the European institutions on public service media governance and funding;

- political parties to consider carefully the proposed amendments to the Law on LRT and to ensure that any future legislative changes are subject to public consultation, including input from national and international journalists, media freedom organisations and LRT management.

The resolution stressed that safeguarding the independence of public service media is a shared European responsibility and an essential condition for the credibility of the EU as a community based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.

Text adopted by Parliament, single reading