Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index reveals a general deterioration in media freedom across most Balkan countries. While Kosovo reported a significant improvement, rising 15 places in the ranking, the region shows mixed results. Croatia, Romania, and Greece recorded improvements, but numerous nations experienced declines.
Bulgaria, for instance, ranked 71st, indicating a decline and being classified as “problematic” regarding media freedom. Slovenia remains the top-ranked country in the region at 36th place, although the organization noted insufficient measures to protect journalists from issues like defamation laws. Conversely, other nations face challenges.
Montenegro saw a decline, with press freedom remaining threatened by political interference. North Macedonia dropped positions, where disinformation and public official conduct are cited as factors undermining public trust in the media. In several countries, concerns center on political influence and funding transparency.
Romania, while possessing a diverse media landscape, struggles with opaque funding mechanisms that allow political parties to gain favorable coverage. Similarly, in Albania, press freedom is threatened by conflicts of interest between the political sphere and business circles. The report highlights that across various countries, media independence is undermined by political interference, the use of SLAPP lawsuits, and questionable funding practices.
While the legal framework may guarantee freedom, practical challenges related to state
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