Hungary: Foreign funding bill poses most serious threat to independent media in years - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in urging the EU to take action against Hungary’s proposed foreign funding bill, which poses a serious threat to freedom of expression and media freedom

Europe at a crossroads: defending democracy depends on defending media freedom - Article

On World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners express solidarity with all journalists and media professionals who face threats, intimidation, and attacks for their work. In these challenging times of socio-political turmoil in Europe and beyond, public interest journalism is more crucial than ever, as journalists continue to work under increasing pressure. We call for decisive action by the European Union, its member states, and candidate countries to uphold and protect media freedom

Blueprint for protection of democracy from information threats - Reports

Disinformation in the Western Balkans threatens democracy. A whole-of-society, coordinated approach—covering institutions, media, civil society, and regulation—is essential to strengthen resilience, protect elections, and ensure informed citizenry.

Albania: Media freedom groups welcome court verdict on seizure of journalist Elton Qyno’s equipment - Article

SafeJournalists Network, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court of Albania which overturned the lower-court orders allowing the search and seizure of journalist Elton Qyno’s equipment, reinforcing the importance of protecting journalistic sources and freedom of expression in line with international standards

Serbia: Spyware attacks on BIRN journalists further deepen press freedom crisis - Article

Further alarm about the deepening press freedom crisis: revelations showing evidence of the abuse of advanced Pegasus spyware

Romania: Answers needed over surveillance of investigative journalist - Article

Disturbing revelations about the physical surveillance and wiretapping of Victor Ilie, Romanian investigative journalist, by the Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA).

Open Letter: Surveillance warrants targeting journalists are dangerous for democracy - Article

OBCT, alongside free expression organizations, Romanian journalists and media outlets, condemns the surveillance of journalists by Romanian prosecutors as a violation of press freedom 

Originally published in Romanian and English by ActiveWatch and the Center for independent Journalism

SafeJournalists Network and Media Freedom Rapid Response: TikTok ban in Albania threatens freedom of expression ahead of general elections - Article

SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, and civil society organizations express serious concern regarding the Albanian Council of Ministers' decision to suspend nationwide access to the TikTok platform for 12 months

Index of the State of the Press in the Republic of Moldova (ISPM) – 2024 - Reports

The Index of the State of the Press in the Republic of Moldova (ISPM) is an annual initiative led by the Centrul pentru Jurnalism Independent/Independent Journalism Center (IJC) based in Chisinau, Moldova

USAID suspension in BiH, a hard blow to media and civil society - Article

The suspension of the US government's international aid programmes, one of the first decisions taken by Donald Trump after taking office, has triggered a wave of uncertainty around the world, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is no exception

By Darko Kurić

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA and BHS