News

Media freedom, a prerequisite for EU enlargement

24/10/2025

To advance in their European integration path, Western Balkan candidate countries must ensure media freedom and pluralism. For Montenegro and North Macedonia, this means moving beyond formal commitments and demonstrating through concrete actions that democratic reforms are more than words on paper

read more

Montenegro: public service hostage to cronyism

22/10/2025

Following the recent conviction for abuse of office of the President and three members of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Council, controversy continues over the appointment of Boris Raonić as director of the Montenegrin public broadcaster

read more

Car bomb attack on investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci rings alarm for media freedom in Italy

17/10/2025

OBCT joins the undersigned journalists and media freedom organisations in strongly condemning the car bomb attack on one of Italy’s leading investigative journalist and his family. We welcome the opening of an investigation by the Anti-Mafia Investigation Division and call for an urgent assessment of the effectiveness of the protective measures applied to the journalist

read more

Call on President von der Leyen to address media freedom crisis in the Western Balkans

13/10/2025

Against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening media freedom crisis across the region, most prominently in Serbia, a coalition of international media freedom, journalists’ and freedom of expression organizations calls on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to raise the threats to the protection of journalists and media pluralism with the respective authorities during her visit to the Western Balkans this week (13-16 October)

read more

Georgia: urgent action to safeguard independent journalism

10/10/2025

The undersigned media freedom, journalists’, and freedom of expression organisations strongly condemn the intensifying crackdown on Georgian journalists and press freedom defenders who continue to face institutional repression and physical attacks.

read more

A call for to key EU member states to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement

30/09/2025

OBCT joined other free expression organizations in addressing leaders in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, calling for the suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement

read more

MFRR condemns police interference with journalistic work in Germany and calls for protection of all journalists

26/09/2025

Germany: OBCT and MFRR partners stress that police must safeguard journalists’ work at all times, especially during protests

read more

Bulgaria: Press Freedom Undermined by Political Polarisation and Delayed Reforms

26/09/2025

Media freedom in Bulgaria faces entrenched challenges in a climate of political polarisation and legislative inertia, with urgent action needed by government and public authorities to push forward both domestic and EU-mandated reforms, a coalition of international press freedom organisations said today

read more

France: MFRR condemn new resurgence of police violence against journalists

25/09/2025

MFRR partners condemn police violence against journalists covering protests over France’s 2026 budget plan. They urge French authorities to ensure journalists’ safety and uphold press freedom during demonstrations

read more

Bulgaria: Mission to examine media freedom and independent journalism

23/09/2025

OBCT joins international coalition for media freedom mission to Bulgaria

read more