Teresa Ribeiro joins the advisory board of Balkan Free Media Initiative

The Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) is delighted to welcome veteran Portuguese politician and former OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, to its Advisory Board.  

Mrs. Ribeiro brings decades of experience in journalism, human rights, politics, and diplomacy. From 2020 to 2024, she served as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, where she actively championed media freedom as a cornerstone of regional security.

Before her OSCE tenure, she was Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, while also serving as President of the National Commission for Human Rights. She previously held the role of Secretary of State for European Affairs and served as Deputy Secretary General at the Union for the Mediterranean. With deep expertise in government and EU institutions, she strengthens BFMI’s capacity to address the region’s media challenges.

Her appointment comes at a critical moment for European security. The erosion of independent, high-quality journalism limits public access to reliable information, undermining democratic institutions. These challenges are particularly severe in the Balkans, where European democratic values are increasingly threatened by rising authoritarian influence and foreign interference.

Mrs. Ribeiro joins BFMI’s distinguished Advisory Board, which includes former BBC World Service Director Peter Horrocks and former Senior Director of the National Endowment for Democracy Mark Nelson.

→ Commenting on today’s announcement, BFMI’s director, Antoinette Nikolova said:

"Europe is at a crossroads, facing challenges that demand unity and strength. The global powers are being tested, and Southeast Europe
stands at at risk of being swept up in the tectonic shifts reshaping the international order. A strong and independent media ecosystem
is essential to ensuring transparency, accountability, and democratic resilience. Mrs. Ribeiro’s strategic vision and expertise will strengthen BFMI’s mission to uphold professional and high-quality standards and safeguard democratic values across the Balkans and beyond.”

→ Teresa Ribeiro, BFMI’s Advisory Board Member, said:

“It’s a privilege to join BFMI and rest assured I will do my best to contribute in a useful way to the ultimate purpose of the organisation.
At a time when press freedom is under siege, BFMI’s work in combatting disinformation and strengthening independent journalism
in the Balkans, ensuring that malign actors do not undermine the region’s stability, is essential.
There can be no security without media freedom.”