EU rule of law erodes further as Commission struggles to respond - Article

Examining the most significant infringements of justice, corruption, media freedom, and checks and balances across the European Union (EU) in 2025,  the Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 has found stagnation as the dominant trend in the rule of law, with very limited progress among Member States

International organisations urge Kosovo government to reverse media freedom decline - Article

Media freedom in Kosovo has experienced a period of decline since 2023 amidst a series of negative developments, which calls for immediate political action by the government, an international media freedom mission concluded today

Council of Europe Platform partners and other partners to conduct fact-finding mission on media freedom in Kosovo - Article

From 24 to 25 March 2026, partner organisations of the Council of Europe Platform on the Safety of Journalists and other organisations will conduct a two-day fact-finding mission to Prishtina, Kosovo. The purpose of the mission is to assess the challenges to media freedom in the country and to discuss the possible solutions with media stakeholders and authorities

Georgia: Restrictive new funding law would further cut off media and journalists - Article

The MFRR partners strongly condemn the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. 

EU: MFRR contributes to European Union annual Rule of Law report - Article

Last week, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations submitted contributions to the European Union’s annual Rule of Law report for 2026, identifying key developments for media freedom and pluralism and outlining recommendations for reform

Amendments to Albania’s Criminal Code must be strengthened to ensure full decriminalisation of defamation - Article

The undersigned organisations of the SafeJournalists Network, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today stress that recent amendments to Albania’s Criminal Code, though positive, must be strengthened to ensure decriminalisation of defamation

SLAPP in Montenegro: between hesitant courts and missed reforms - Article

Strategic lawsuits against public participation remain an under-recognized practice in the country. The ongoing proceedings before the Podgorica court, initiated by Andrej Vučić, brother of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, against the daily newspaper Vijesti, could set an important precedent for establishing judicial practices in handling SLAPPs

By Olivera Nikolic and Massimo Moratty 

Media freedom under electoral siege: money, law, and silence between the lines - Article

When it comes to Macedonian media, Brussels notes “limited progress,” the OSCE warns of unequal access to the media space, and the civil sector speaks of a system of soft censorship and quiet dependence on state funding

By Metamorphosis Foundation

European Democracy Shield: Bolstering independent media at the core of democratic resilience - Article

In the face of rising digital manipulation, shrinking civic space and collapsing media business models, the European Democracy Shield offers an important opportunity to ensure safety of journalists and media viability, among other things, but only if turned into concrete action. This is what MFRR aims to follow

EU Enlargement Package: Assessments must now translate into meaningful media freedom action - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today welcomes the publication of the 2025 EU Enlargement Package  and highlights key media freedom developments and concerns that should shape negotiations with candidate countries moving forward