Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania

In this non-legislative resolution, Parliament responds to the attempted takeover of Lithuania's public broadcaster and what it describes as a threat to democracy in Lithuania, framing the issue against Articles 2 and 7 TEU and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The text stresses that free, independent and pluralistic media is an essential pillar of democracy and the rule of law, and that the editorial and institutional independence of public service media must be guaranteed, recalling EMFA safeguards on transparent appointment and dismissal procedures and on transparent, objective funding criteria. It notes recent legislative developments in Lithuania affecting the broadcaster's funding model and the procedures for dismissing its director general, and refers to the case-law of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court on the broadcaster's constitutional independence. The resolution was adopted on 22 January 2026.