International organisations urge Kosovo government to reverse media freedom decline - Article

Media freedom in Kosovo has experienced a period of decline since 2023 amidst a series of negative developments, which calls for immediate political action by the government, an international media freedom mission concluded today

Hungary: Espionage charges against Szabolcs Panyi mark a dangerous step toward Orbán’s authoritarian rule - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in standing in solidarity with Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi, who faces espionage charges in response to his investigations regarding Russian interference in Orban's election campaign

Moldova’s media targeted by SLAPP - Article

SLAPPs, or vexatious lawsuits, often target media outlets that engage in investigative journalism. Moldova is no exception. We discussed the issue during a recent workshop in Chisinau

This article has been first published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Stronger Legal Protections for Journalists: The New Criminal and Contravention Law Amendments Explained - Reports

In the context of Moldova’s accession process to the European Union, the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) has published a legal analysis of the recent legislative amendments concerning the protection of journalists

Italy: MFRR flags ongoing media freedom erosion - Article

Media freedom in Italy has continued its overall downward trajectory in the past two years, amidst the car bomb attack on one of the country’s most famous journalists, new spyware attacks on reporters, politicisation of the public broadcaster, legal harassment of journalists by governing politicians, and continued concerns over media pluralism, partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today

Women’s Day: Gender-based violence, a growing weapon against women journalists - Article

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) publish alarming data highlighting how women journalists across Europe continue to face enhanced risk through systematic gender-based violence in the past year

North Macedonia: Appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab a worrying setback for media freedom - Article

A recent defamation decision by the Court of Appeal in North Macedonia against the Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) is a worrying development for media freedom in the country, which should be overturned on further appeal, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today

Albania: Democratic reform of public broadcaster RTSH remains only viable option - Article

The undersigned Albanian and international media freedom and journalist organisations jointly call on the Albanian government to support the reform of the public service broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) through lawful, democratic and institutional means, in line with democratic norms and EU standards

Georgia: Restrictive new funding law would further cut off media and journalists - Article

The MFRR partners strongly condemn the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding. 

EU’s Dangerous ‘Return Hubs’ Policy: A Threat to Journalists in Exile - Article

OBCT joins ECPMF and partner organisations call on the EU to reconsider the policy and place the protection of those fleeing persecution at the centre of its approach