Report: Fragile media freedom progress in Bulgaria at risk of backsliding without urgent reform - Article

The partner organisations of the Council of Europe's Safety of Journalists Platform and the Media Freedom Rapid Response have released the media freedom report on Bulgaria following a three-day fact-finding mission that took place from 24 to 26 September

Media freedom, a prerequisite for EU enlargement - Article

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

Towards Stronger Anti-SLAPP Protections in Romania - Article

Growing awareness of SLAPPs in Romania has spurred new legislative and civil society initiatives. Yet, their success will hinge on coordinated action to protect journalists and uphold freedom of expression

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Bulgaria: Press Freedom Undermined by Political Polarisation and Delayed Reforms - Article

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

Open Letter on Improving Journalists’ Access to the Albanian Parliament - Article

MFRR partners and free expression organizations urge the Albanian Parliament to drop plans restricting journalists’ access and to protect media freedom

Ten demands for maintaining media freedom in Czechia - Article

Media freedom is the cornerstone of every democratic society. Independent journalism, together with media literacy and free access to information, is the best prevention against disinformation. In the run-up to the Czech parliamentary elections on 3 and 4 October 2025, the undersigned organisations therefore propose to political parties specific steps to protect these values

Moldovan women journalists challenging Russian disinformation - Article

Last fall, Moldovan investigative journalists Natalia Zaharescu and Măriuța Nistor infiltrated the network of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Șor for three months. They documented the illegal techniques used to mobilize people and the risks faced by journalists working in this context

By Gian Marco Moisé

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA