Without Borders Observes Deterioration of Media Freedom Across Most Balkan Countries

Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index indicates a general deterioration of media freedom across most Balkan countries. Kosovo stands out as a notable exception, recording a 15-place rise in its ranking, although the country remains among the lowest-ranked in Europe. Other areas showing improvement include Croatia, Romania, and Greece, while many other countries report a decline.

Bulgaria, for instance, ranks 71st, one position lower than the previous year, and the organization classifies its media environment as “problematic.”

The report notes that while Slovenia maintains the best media environment in the region at 36th place, even here, concerns remain regarding the sufficiency of protections for journalists. For other countries, challenges persist; Montenegro faces threats from political interference, and North Macedonia struggles with disinformation undermining public trust in its media. Several countries are classified by the organization with varying levels of concern.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are rated as having “difficult” media freedom, while Turkiye is characterized as having a “very serious” situation. The index highlights systemic challenges across these countries. In Romania, while the media landscape is diverse, issues of funding transparency and political interference remain weaknesses.

Croatia showed improvement, yet the government has reportedly failed to adequately protect journalists from lawsuits and organized crime. Albania and Cyprus also recorded declines, with the report pointing to significant external influences, including business and religious interests, impacting media operations. Overall, the data underscores that while some progress in media freedom is visible among these countries, political interference, economic pressure, and threats against journalists continue to challenge the stability of the press across the region’s countries.

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