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

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

EU Rule of Law Report: A welcome but insufficient response to deteriorating media freedom - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in responding to the publication of the European Commission's 2025 Rule of Law Report, urging the EU to strengthen its commitment to media freedom and the protection of independent journalism

Albania, media trapped in a triangle of pressure - Article

Journalists across Europe are often subjected to subtle forms of pressure and intimidation, including vexatious lawsuits frequently initiated by influential politicians or businesspeople. Blerjana Bino, Executive Director of SCiDEV and Researcher at the SafeJournalists Network, provides insight into the situation in the country

By Serena Epis

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Montenegro: MFRR partners call for the perpetrators of the attack on journalist Ana Raičković to be held accountable - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the verbal and physical attack on Ana Raičković, editor of the daily "Pobjeda", as well as the attack on her family members

Country Report: Albania - Article

The media sector in Albania is rather unstable. While certain areas have seen progress, the state of media freedom and protection for journalists remains precarious and needs stronger safeguards

By Sukanya Sengupta 

SLAPP in Croatia, a plague - Article

Over a thousand lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2023 against journalists and media outlets, nearly half of which are SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These are frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence freedom of expression

By Giovanni Vale 

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

2024 rule of law report: media freedom organizations urge the EU to enforce stronger safeguards - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response welcomes the publication of the 2024 Rule of Law. Despite progress in some areas, the report shows that press freedom remains under threat in Europe. We urge Member States and the European Union to intensify their efforts to uphold media freedom, and reinforce their roles in safeguarding this pillar of democracy

Media in Albania, under the blows of power - Article

The recent angry attack by the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama against a journalist has brought the constant pressure and intimidation that the power in Albania exerts on the media and media professionals back under the spotlight

By  Erion Gjatolli

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Silencing Voices in Italy: The Erosion of Media Freedom - Article

Italy's media is in crisis, battling legal onslaughts and facing a surge of censorship one year after the establishment of the far-right government led by Giorgia Meloni

By Sielke Kelner

(Originally published by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung , 16.01.2024)