Media freedom

Freedom of expression and media freedom are pillars of democracy, and need to be guaranteed by states aspiring for EU membership.

Yet many challenges to a genuine freedom of expression and media independence persist in the Western Balkans. This contributes to a climate ripe for misinformation and tarnishes democracy.

That’s why the EU dedicates much support to independent journalism, ensuring media pluralism, and promoting freedom of expression.

What are the challenges?

A vibrant independent media is an integral feature of any democratic society. A healthy democracy needs a plurality of voices and open access to reliable information.

Independent media plays a vital role in informing citizens, holding authorities to account, providing a diversity of opinion and offering a platform for debate.
However, the EU recognises that ensuring freedom of expression and media freedom is one of the main challenges facing partners in the Western Balkans.
Political interference in the media, economic concerns such as media concentration, and various forms of harassment including violence against journalists, are some of the issues.

Strong efforts are needed to guarantee the independence of public service broadcasters, to promote transparency in public and private funding of the media and to tackle the distorted advertising market across the region.

How is the EU responding?

The EU has been supporting media independence in the Western Balkans for many years, actively collaborating with partners such as the Council of Europe the European Broadcasting Union and UNESCO to support the sector.

Funding through organisations such as the European Endowment for Democracy has enabled a host of independent media outlets to develop and grow as quality communication channels.

Many young and mid-career journalists have benefited from training and exchanges with EU counterparts. High quality investigative journalism and media literacy programmes and award schemes have been established.

EU support has also enabled associations of journalists to join forces to report on attacks and threats and advocate on their behalf. Beyond the funding, the EU plays a key scrutiny role, monitoring progress and reporting on concerns.

© Citizen Channel Albania / EED

EU media support programmes worth almost €30 million active in 2021

€10 million for media sector in 2021 under Civil Society and Media Facility

Ongoing support

But as the challenges persist, the support continues. The annual Enlargement Package – a set of documents taking stock of the situation in EU candidate countries and potential candidates – serves as an important tool to monitor progress or regression in media freedom and freedom of expression.

The EU also continues to provide significant financial and practical support, notably through the Civil Society and Media Facility. Priorities reflect a long-term strategic approach, based on the Guidelines for EU support to media freedom and media integrity in enlargement countries. Examples of support include:

Reinforcing legal expertise – Providing legal assistance and guidance to national public institutions in drafting and applying media legislation, and training on responsibilities for journalists
Building trust in media – Supporting press councils and ethical journalism, and strengthening media and information literacy with training and awareness raising campaigns.
Direct funding – Supporting independent media, including innovative news and information outlets and digital platforms. This enhances media pluralism and quality and ensure access to objective, professional and credible reporting and information