Open letter on Albania's draft anti-SLAPP legislative package - Article

European and regional media freedom organizations and Albanian civil society organisations welcome the draft anti-SLAPP law and the progress made towards establishing stronger safeguards for journalists, media workers, civil society and others engaged in public participation

Slovenia: Authorities urged to refrain from adopting changes that would weaken public media - Article

On October 11, Slovenians will vote on a referendum on whether to abolish the licence fee that funds their public broadcaster, while a draft law is moving forward that would give the government decisive influence over the body responsible for appointing the broadcaster’s management. 

SLAPPs in Moldova: Lessons from investigative media outlet Cu Sens - Article

The Moldovan investigative journalism outlet Cu Sens has faced numerous legal threats in recent years. In this interview, Felicia Crețu and Liuba Șevciuc discuss how they responded to these challenges and the lessons they learned from their experience

By Gian Marco Moisé

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Bulgaria: Press freedom groups demand safety of journalist Dimitar Stoyanov is guaranteed following alleged threats - Article

The undersigned international media freedom organisations today raise alarm over the coordinated campaign of pressure against Bulgarian investigative journalist Dimitar Stoyanov and call on national authorities to guarantee his safety and respond forcefully to allegations of a potential assassination attempt in response to his reporting

Poland: MFRR welcomes passing of Anti-SLAPP Act as victory for media freedom - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in welcoming the signature of the Presidential Act that officially transposes the EU anti-SLAPP Directive into Polish legislation

Serbia: Solidarity with Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation following another setback in its quest for justice - Article

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) joined the undersigned media freedom and journalist organisations in standing in full solidarity with the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, which has been ordered to pay over one million dinars (€8,812) in damages in a defamation case brought by those acquitted of the murder of the Serbian editor and newspaper founder, Slavko Ćuruvija.

World Press Freedom Day: Six years of monitoring reveals emerging threats against media freedom in Europe - Article

To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) is today publishing an analysis  of six years of monitoring data, which reveals in granular detail the most serious challenges and trends threatening freedom of the press in Europe

Czech Republic: Public media funding bill raises concerns over compatibility with EMFA - Article

A new government bill which would overhaul the funding model for the Czech public media risks financially weakening the broadcasters, eroding safeguards for their financial independence and violating EMFA, MFRR partners warn today

Hungary: Media freedom reform must be priority for incoming Tisza government - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in calling on the new Hungarian government to make media freedom reforms a priority 

Serbian authorities must stop the spiral of violence against journalists - Article

Media freedom in Serbia remains trapped in a downward spiral amidst record levels of physical violence against journalists, death threats and online smear campaigns, alarming levels of impunity, and tight political control over the media landscape, a coalition of media freedom organisations concluded.