Media freedom is on the decline throughout the EU and is dangerously close to reaching a critical state in multiple nations, according to a prominent civil liberties network.

The Berlin-based Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), collaborating with 37 rights groups in 19 countries, outlined in its yearly media freedom report that concerning patterns identified in previous years persisted in 2023. A particularly alarming revelation is the surveillance of journalists in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Poland using Israeli spyware like Pegasus and Predator.
  
“Media freedom is clearly in steady decline across the EU – in many countries as a result of deliberate harm or neglect by national governments,” said Eva Simon, the senior advocacy officer at Liberties.
 
“Declining media freedom goes hand in hand with a decline in the rule of law. There’s a close correlation between the two. This is the playbook of authoritarian regimes,” she added.
 
Simon said that the new EU media legislation “has potential”; however, these measures must be effectively put into practice.

Europe's media scene in the past year remained characterized by significant media ownership concentration, insufficient regulations regarding ownership transparency, and numerous challenges to public media outlets' independence and financial stability, according to Liberties.

The report also highlighted various incidents of intimidation, surveillance, and violence targeting journalists in multiple member states, alongside constraints on freedom of expression and information access across the EU.

Liberties advised the European Commission to closely monitor how member states implement the new European Media Freedom Act. Despite its compromises, this legislation, according to Simon, establishes a legal framework for enhancing media freedom.

“Much will depend on national governments and authorities, but the act means cases can now be brought before a European court that will rule on what media independence, surveillance of journalists, and so on mean,” she stressed.

The report highlighted instances of physical attacks against journalists in countries such as Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy in 2023. In Hungary and Slovakia, reporters encountered verbal abuse and threats from elected officials.

According to the report, police in Romania and Sweden failed to adequately investigate attacks on journalists, citing either a lack of resources or a lack of motivation. Additionally, in France and Bulgaria, there were cases where police officers themselves assaulted journalists.

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Abusive strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps) were commonly employed against journalists in Croatia, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. 

The UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority defines SLAPPs as “an alleged misuse of the legal system, and the bringing or threatening of proceedings, to harass or intimidate … thereby discouraging scrutiny of matters in the public interest."

Media ownership concentration persisted at high levels in Croatia, France, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, and Slovakia, where just a handful of individuals own numerous media companies. This situation poses a threat to media diversity and increases the likelihood of bias.

In Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, journalists critical of the government faced exclusion from press conferences or other official events or encountered difficulties accessing documents they were entitled to.

In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico, a populist leader, has ceased all communication with four media outlets accused of displaying openly hostile attitudes. Additionally, his government recently approved a contentious bill aimed at overhauling the public broadcaster RTVS.

In Croatia, France, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, and Slovakia, there continues to be a significant concentration of media ownership, where a small number of individuals own many media companies. This situation poses a threat to the diversity of media voices and raises concerns about potential bias.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, journalists who are critical of the government have faced exclusion from press conferences or other official events, and have encountered difficulties accessing documents they are entitled to.

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