EU media freedom still at risk in new European Commission report
Jul 25, 2024
Brussels [Belgium], July 25: Media freedom is still at risk in several EU countries, the European Commission said in the latest rule of law report on Wednesday.
Working conditions for journalists and "the lack of independence of public service media governance in several countries remain issues of concern," the commission said.
The rule of law report is an annual check-up of the European Union's standards of government, corruption safeguards, and civil society conditions published by the commission for the last five years.
In Italy, the independence of the public service broadcaster RAI "represents a long-standing source of concern" over governance and funding issues. Comprehensive reform is needed "to ensure that RAI is better shielded from risks of political interference," the commission said, referencing contributions from media organizations in Italy.
The EU executive arm highlighted a walkout by journalists and editors after an editorial shift at the broadcaster following the appointment of a new chief executive officer. There was also no progress in transparency surrounding media ownership in Italy, the commission said, while underlining that the country's defamation regime has also not improved. Death threats, physical attacks and intimidation towards journalists "continue to raise concerns on the safety of journalists in Italy," the commission said.
In Slovakia, the dissolution of the public broadcaster in July to set up a new media organization caused the commission to be concerned about the future independence of the new entity.
Issues of editorial independence in public broadcasters in Hungary, Romania and Malta have also not been resolved, the commission said.
To shore up media freedom across the bloc from creeping threats, the EU passed the European Media Freedom Act, set to enter into force on August 8, 2025, which established EU-wide legal safeguards for editorial independence and the protection of journalistic sources.
Hungary has consistently fallen foul in the commission's reports on the rule of law, and clashed repeatedly with EU institutions.
Source: Qatar Tribune
