Media freedom
EU Rule of Law Report highlights new legislations and persistent problems
The European Commission presented its Rule of Law Report for 2026 on 17 July. The report gives an evaluation of the state of the rule of law in the member states as well as in the candidate countries. Amongst the topics that are evaluated are media freedom, independency, and the safety of journalists.
In the report, the commission points out that in their proposal for the next multiannual budget (MFF), they suggest that states will need to present National and Regional Partnership Plans, which will need to address challenges identified in the Rule of Law Report and include their plan’s investments and reforms to protect and strengthen the rule of law. The commission’s work with these reports has earlier been criticised for having little implication for the states, even when they are in violation of the rule of law.
The report looks at several aspects of media freedom, presented below:
Independent functioning of media regulators – The report states that in a number of member states, media regulators have been strengthened, either by receiving more resources or by expanding their competences. This includes Denmark and Sweden. At the same time, the report warns that in Slovakia there are concerns about new amendments on the regulator’s independence.
Increasing the transparency of media ownership – The report addresses several positive developments in increasing the transparency of media ownership in many member states, such as a preliminary national media ownership database being developed in France. At the same time, it raises concerns regarding the transparency of media ownership in Czechia and an increased political and economic influence on the media in Serbia.
Ensuring transparent and fair state advertising – Since the publication of the last Rule of Law Report in 2025, legislation to specifically address the issue of state advertising has been adopted in six member states, while others have prepared draft legislation. However, the report states that in Hungary the problems concerning this had not been addressed at the time of writing, and in Romania financing of private media by political parties and state authorities remains an issue.
Strengthening the independence of national public service broadcasters – Various reforms have been adopted or put in place in member states, including Sweden and Finland, while Denmark has introduced a new model for the appointment of the board of public radio. Reforms on the governance of public service broadcasters are ongoing in several countries. Concerns of stakeholders persist in Slovakia with regard to the law of July 2024 dissolving the public broadcaster, while proposals to re-open the governance and financing of public service media have raised concerns in Czechia and Lithuania. Among enlargement countries, concerns regarding the independence or editorial autonomy of the public broadcaster have persisted in Serbia and Albania.
Improving the safety and protection of journalists – Several member states and enlargement countries have adopted dedicated Action Plans to improve the safety of journalists – for example, Denmark and Croatia – or strengthened their law enforcement’s capacity to protect journalists. Many member states, including Sweden, have during the last year adopted anti-SLAPP legislation (combating Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), or have legislation regarding this problem in various stages of preparation. The report concludes that protection of journalists remains pending in Malta and Slovakia and warns of the development in Albania and Serbia.
(Rule of Law Report 2026)
EFJ slams Rule of Law Report
In a statement, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) commented on the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report, stating that it “seriously underestimates the threats facing the European media ecosystem”.
According to the EFJ, the report notes the entry into force of important EU legislation related to the media, such as the European Media Freedom Act and the Anti-SLAPP Directive, without commenting that the implementation of these has been delayed, and governments have expressed lack of willingness to do so.
Moreover, the statement points to several reports, amongst them from Media Freedom Rapid Response and the Council of Europe, that state the situation for journalists and the media is seriously deteriorating across the EU.
As an example of the commission’s sugarcoating, the EFJ argues that instead of congratulating the three countries that have adopted national action plans to better protect journalists, and two for taking measures to strengthen their plans, the commission should have criticised the 22 other countries that have not yet taken any action.
“The overall impression is that of a report which attempts to normalise a situation that is extremely worrying for democracy”, concluded EFJ President Maja Sever.
(The EU Rule of Law report seriously underestimates the decline in press freedom)
Czech reform of public service media raises concern
The Czech government’s plan to abolish broadcasting licence fees and instead finance public media by annual allocations from the state budget, starting in 2027, has received a lot of criticism. Euractiv reports that the proposal triggered a 24-hour strike by employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio and fuelled accusations of the government undermining media independence.
In a statement from 22 June by, amongst others, the European Broadcasting Union, the International Press Institute, and Reporters Without Borders, the organisations warn the funding levels proposed would “represent a significant real-terms cut, with no safeguards for PSM independence, no prior consultation with the broadcasters, and insufficient time for public and parliamentary debate”.
The overhaul would result in the Czech Television and Radio together receiving roughly €58 million less than their current revenues. The broadcasters estimate it would imply between 450 and 700 jobs could be lost.
Media experts Euractiv has spoken to warn the changes could conflict with the European Media Freedom Act, since it requires public service media funding to be adequate, predictable, sustainable, and designed to guarantee independence.
(Czech public broadcaster under attack)
Continued Italian backsliding on media freedom
In its latest mission to Italy in March, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) found the situation for the Italian media has continued to deteriorate. In their report, they write: “Serious incidents, including sustained political interference in the public service media Rai, threats concerning media market concentration, legal intimidation, physical and verbal attacks on journalists, as well as spyware attacks on journalists, are the recurrent patterns identified by the MFRR in Italy”.
The most worrying trend, according to the MFRR, is the political interference in Radiotelevisione Italiana (Rai) whose funding models and governance do not comply with the standards set by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
MFRR also addresses the recent sale of GEDI Group’s media assets, which has raised significant concerns about the future of editorial independence in Italy’s media landscape.
(Italy: MFRR report highlights continuing media freedom backsliding)
Serbia’s democratic regression hinders it from EU rapprochement
In July, eight EU member states opposed and blocked a proposal to open a new accession negotiation cluster with Serbia, which had been proposed by the European Commission. Euractiv reports that Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden opposed opening talks on single market alignment with Serbia because of the country’s democratic and judicial backsliding, which include attacks on media freedom.
Unanimous support from the member states is required to open and close any of the six negotiating “clusters”, or thematic areas of law and policy, required for a candidate country to work through to become an EU member.
Serbia officially became a candidate country to the EU 14 years ago.
(Serbia's EU membership bid hits the wall)
Journalists targeted at Albanian Flamingo protests
On 30 July, eleven European media organisations, amongst them the European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited, and European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, published an appeal condemning the escalation of repression against journalists and civil society in the EU candidate country Albania.
According to the signatories, journalists have faced obstruction, attacks, and police interference while reporting on the protests that were sparked as a response to American President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s plans to build resorts in Albania. Fifteen attacks against journalists were registered by SafeJournalists Network in June and July, at the height of the protests. Also, journalists, activists, civil society organisations, and environmental defenders have been targeted and portrayed as paid, politically controlled, or directed by foreign interests.
The organisations call on European institutions and diplomatic missions in Tirana to raise these concerns with the Albanian authorities and point out that Albania’s progress towards EU membership must be measured by the possibility to scrutinise public authority and participate in democratic debate without fear.
(Albania: Cumulative pressure on media freedom and civic space demands urgent action)
