Source: Liberties

The fifth Media Freedom Report in the EU is coordinated by Liberties and collects analyses and insights from 43 civil society organisations from across Europe. It provides an updated overview of key developments at the EU level, as well as on specific trends in 22 member states.

The Report covers key issues ranging from media ownership and transparency, state advertising and public funding, the functioning of public service media and independent regulators, the protection of journalists from threats and harassment, online media and disinformation, and overall public trust in the sector.

As we approach the International Press Freedom Day on May 3, the report warns that media freedom is in a dire position across Europe. Major concerns include growing violence against journalists and emerging threats such as the use of spyware, media capture by governments and political powers, and worsening media concentration paired with a lack of ownership transparency, all of which negatively impact citizens’ right to access independent, accurate, and impartial information, and consequently, public trust in the sector.

The report also covers progress in the implementation of key EU laws, such as the European Media Freedom Act and the Anti-SLAPP Directive, warning that their implementation remains slow and inadequate in most member states. Liberties further warns that the EU recommendations advanced in the Commission’s Rule of Law reports are systematically ignored, a serious shortcoming that undermines both the effectiveness and credibility of the EU’s monitoring framework.

The Report is available at this link: Liberties Media Freedom Report 2026