The Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) has published its report examining political manipulation of media markets in Bulgaria, Serbia and North Macedonia.

More than 250 days have now passed since the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) last received state funding for carrying out its public service mission from the government of Janez Janša, which currently presides over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

A bill, dubbed Lex TVN, threatens the largest ever US investment in Poland. It also demonstrates the lengths that Mateusz Morawiecki is willing to go to silence the media.

Polish journalist, broadcaster and author, Jacek Pałasiński takes an in depth look at the situation, exclusively for BFMI.

The Bulgarian National Information Agency (BTA) has started regularly publishing reports and updates with a curious source: the Russian news agency, TASS. Even more curious, these reports are often unrelated to Russia or bilateral relations between Sofia and Moscow.

The Commission ignored the most critical question raised by BFMI: how can it allow Euronews to partner in the Balkans with an alleged arms dealer and authoritarians responsible for the deteriorating media environments in these countries?

This week saw the launch of Euronews in Serbia. Its partner in the country is the state-owned company Telekom Srbija, a well-established vehicle for President Aleksandar Vučić to further tighten his grip on the media

This annual report draws on alerts made on the platform to highlight key areas of law, policy and practice where partners consider that actions are urgently required.

The stated intent of the arrangement is to destroy a competitor and force two of the last remaining channels that offer an independent source of TV news in Serbia off the air.

The bitter truth is that almost nothing has changed in a region where press freedoms are being constantly undermined.