Media Freedom in EU Faces Growing Pressure, Report Warns

Media freedom across European Union countries has come under increasing pressure, according to the latest report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties). Journalists are facing growing harassment, threats and violence, while media ownership is becoming more concentrated and public trust continues to decline.

The report warns that political interference and budget cuts are undermining the independence of public service media. At the same time, journalists’ access to information and freedom of expression are becoming more restricted.

According to the authors, the safety of journalists has reached a crisis point. Physical attacks and even bomb incidents have been reported in several European countries, including Greece and Italy.

In Italy alone, 118 attacks on journalists were recorded last year, while dozens of reporters are living under police protection.

Online harassment is also rising. In 2025, 377 serious attacks were recorded, including death threats. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), used to silence media outlets and reporters, remain another major concern.

The report also highlights the concentration of media ownership and political influence over editorial content, pointing in particular to the critical situation in Slovakia.

Public trust in the media remains low across the bloc, while the implementation of European legislation designed to protect press freedom is progressing slowly.

(guardian, bak)