Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index indicates a general deterioration of media freedom across most Balkan countries. While Kosovo shows notable progress with a 15-place rise, the overall regional trend points toward declining press freedom. Improvements were also recorded in Croatia, Romania, and Greece, contrasting with declines seen in nations such as Bulgaria, which ranks 71st and is classified as having “problematic” media freedom.
The report highlights significant variations among the countries. Slovenia remains the regional leader in media environment, though the organization expressed concern over insufficient protection for journalists, noting that defamation remains a criminal offense. Conversely, countries like Montenegro and North Macedonia face ongoing threats, including political interference and the spread of disinformation impacting public trust in the media.
Other nations reveal distinct challenges. Romania, while possessing a diverse media landscape, suffers from a lack of transparency in funding, which is often susceptible to political influence. Bulgaria is cited as having fragile press freedom, with common practices including the intimidation of journalists by politicians.
Cyprus also experienced a decline, with the report noting significant influence exerted by government, religious, and business interests over the media. Overall, the analysis suggests that despite localized gains, the media freedom landscape remains precarious across many of these countries. The findings underscore that while some legal protections exist, these are frequently undermined by political pressure, economic influence, and systemic issues affecting the freedom of the
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Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index indicates a general decline in media freedom across most Balkan countries. Although Kosovo recorded notable progress with a 15-place increas