Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index indicates a general deterioration in the state of media freedom across most Balkan countries. While Kosovo showed significant improvement, rising 15 places in the ranking, the region faces varied challenges. Croatia, Romania, and Greece recorded improvements, contrasting with declines in nations such as Bulgaria, which dropped to 71st place.
The organization assesses the media environment in various countries, classifying many as “problematic.” Slovenia remains the regional leader in media freedom, ranking 36th, though Reporters Without Borders noted concerns regarding insufficient protections for journalists, citing defamation laws as a risk. Other nations show mixed results: Montenegro declined to 41st, while North Macedonia dropped three positions, with disinformation cited as a key threat to public trust in the media. Systemic issues of political interference and funding transparency are recurring themes.
Romania, despite having a diverse media landscape, faces weaknesses related to non-transparent public funding and political attempts to influence state broadcasting heads. In
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