The European Media Freedom Act in the Balkans

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A report by BMFI found that the new European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) could fall short in the Balkans. There are doubts around the will and the ability of national regulators to fully enforce the EMFA’s provisions. The Act itself also needs strengthening if Brussels’ laudable ambitions for improved media freedom are to be met.

Following a presentation to the European Parliament, BFMI provided a set of recommendations for national bodies, European institutions and the upcoming European Board for Media Services, which will be in charge of monitoring the implementation of the EMFA, in order to strengthen the act and account for the unique challenges presented by the Balkan countries featured in this report.

President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, commented on BFMI’s report. You can see this video at the end of this page.

FINDINGS

  • In Bulgaria, political instability has paradoxically, fostered media freedom. The EMFA’s success will depend on the commitment of frequently changing authorities to its implementation. 

  • Greece faces entrenched challenges from oligarchic dominance, politicised regulators, and compromised public media, complicating the integration of EMFA standards. 

  • In Slovenia, inconsistent enforcement and outdated legislation highlight the need for strong oversight in a country that has shown its susceptibility to foreign influence through the media. 

Although the EMFA does not currently apply to EU candidate countries it offers an important framework for protecting media freedom — a fundamental EU membership criterion. In accession candidate countries: 

  • Media freedom in Serbia has been in sharp decline. New national media laws have increased the state’s ability to exert control of the media leading to a deluge of disinformation and a backsliding in democratic standards.  

  • Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which share a language with Serbia, are heavily influenced by Serbian state backed media. This propagates anti-EU narratives, dividing the population and slowing their path to EU accession.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Strengthening provisions to create transparency in media ownership to prevent unaccountable, influential entities from swaying public opinion.  

  • Supporting media pluralism through policies that limit monopolies and encourage a variety of independent perspectives. 

  • Ensuring that public funding for media is allocated transparently and fairly to prevent political bias and support independence. 

  • Protecting public service media from political interference to preserve their role as impartial news providers. 

  • Making media regulators independent and accountable to ensure fair oversight. 

  • Increasing transparency in political advertising to prevent manipulation and boost accountability.  

BFMI AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The findings of the report were introduced to European Parliament at a high-level discussion hosted in November 2024.

A summary and recording of the event will be available soon.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
Speaking on the launch of BFMI’s report at the European Parliament, November 2024