Reports and papers

Analyses on specific aspects related to press and media freedom, performed and published by research centres, non-governmental organizations and public bodies

Media Freedom in Italy: contribution to the EU Rule of Law Mechanism

Increased political influence over the public service media RAI, growing threats and intimidations against journalists and a slow reform process of the defamation regime are among the key development related to media freedom recorded in the past year in Italy

read more Italy Rule of Law media freedom

2024 EC Rule of Law Report: EU Accession Countries and Member States on Equal Footing, Civic Space Threats Overlooked

The report provides an analysis of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report on Accession countries prepared by the association Balkan Civil Society Development Network

read more Western Balkans Media freedom Rule of Law

Silencing the Fourth Estate: Italy’s Democratic Drift

The Media Freedom Rapid Response published the final report of the advocacy mission that took place in May 2024 in Rome

read more Italy Media capture Media freedom Media ownership Freedom of expression SLAPP Defamation and Libel Public broadcasting

2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter North Macedonia

Despite constitutional guarantees, North Macedonian journalists face many challenges regarding freedom of expression and media censorship. Troubling precedents, such as defamation cases, are a serious hurdle to media freedom in the country. Journalism remains an unappealing career option for many due to insufficient and non-transparent state funding

read more North Macedonia Media freedom Rule of Law

2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter Montenegro

Montenegro adopted a comprehensive legislative package in June 2024 to bolster media pluralism and freedom in line with EU standards. The legislative packages aim to grant the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AAVMS) greater autonomy and enforcement power. Improvements have also been noticed in how the authorities respond to reported violence against journalists, but there remains a lack of effective judicial action, specifically in past cases

read more Montenegro Media freedom Rule of Law

2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter Croatia

Media Freedom, pluralism and the Right to Information are legally safeguarded in Croatia. However, skepticism persists regarding the independence of the Council for Electronic Media and the public service broadcaster, HRT. Media ownership transparency remains a challenge and SLAPPs targeting journalists are a growing concern

read more Croatia Rule of Law media freedom

2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter Romania

The public service media grapples with funding shortages and issues of editorial autonomy that lead to challenges in fulfilling its mandate. Though a robust legal framework with imposition of penalties is in place, some political parties have increased their financing of private media for political advertising. Threats and harassment against journalists continue and steady access to information is not available

read more Romania Rule of Law media freedom

2024 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter Bulgaria

The report points out a set of challenges to media freedom in the country, including the independence of the media regulator, the management of existing registers for media ownership, the implementation of legal safeguards for economic and political interference and editorial independence, access to public information, and increasing cases of threats of lawsuits and censorship

read more Bulgaria Media freedom Rule of Law


2024 Media Pluralism Monitor: Italy

Monitoring media pluralism in the digital era: application of the media pluralism monitor in the European member states and in candidate countries in 2023.

Country report: Italy

read more Italy Media freedom Media ownership Safety of journalists Freedom of expression