Finland publishes a fourth reply to the European Commission regarding Sanoma Media Finland Ltd’s complaint against the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE)

Ministry of Transport and Communications

6.9.2022 13.00

Press release

The reply of 4 August 2022 by the state of Finland to the European Commission regarding Sanoma Media Finland Ltd's complaint against the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE has been made public. The version made available to the general public does not include any secret business information of Sanoma or YLE. The reply is the fourth that Finland has submitted to the Commission in relation to the complaint.

The complaint pursued by Sanoma concerns, in particular, YLE's video-on-demand services and digital learning materials. Currently, YLE produces video-on-demand services and provides them in Yle Areena. In the complainant's view, the services do not comply with EU state aid legislation.

In its reply, the state of Finland is of the opinion that YLE's on-demand video services and digital learning materials respond to users' changing needs of content services and meet the public service duty of YLE. In Finland's view, the facts and the legal assessment in Sanoma's replies are not justified.

What's next?

The Commission will assess whether Finland's replies are sufficient and decide whether to request any additional information from Finland. The processing of state aid matters in the EU may take several years and include many rounds of communication.

Inquiries

Roosa Patrakka, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 50 431 7036, roosa.patrakka(at)gov.fi

Aino Sipari, Director of Unit, tel. +358 50 326 5829, aino.sipari(at)gov.fi

Other documents: Finland's fourth reply to the European Commission in the matter SA.62830 (in Finnish)
Press release 5 August 2022: Finland submits a fourth reply to the European Commission regarding Sanoma Media Finland Ltd's complaint against the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE)
Press release 31 May 2022:Finland submitted its reply to the questions by the European Commission regarding Sanoma's Yle complaint (in Finnish)
Press release 2 November 2021:Finland will publish its supplementary reply to Sanoma's YLE complaint (in Finnish)
Press release 30 September 2021:Finland supplements its reply on Sanoma's complaint concerning YLE
Press release 21 June 2021:Finland replies to European Commission on Sanoma's complaint concerning YLE
Press release 3 June 2021:Finland proposes to European Commission that documents on Sanoma's complaint concerning YLE be published
Press release 27 May 2021:Reply to the complaint on state aid for the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE under preparation

Finland publishes a fourth reply to the European Commission regarding Sanoma Media Finland Ltd’s complaint against the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE)

What's next?

Inquiries

See also

Prime Minister Orpo highlights role of security in the development of the EU

Minister of Economic Affairs Rydman to attend the 9th Cohesion Forum in Brussels

Nuclear energy kolumn: It is worth hopping on a plane to Brussels