European Press Freedom Monitoring Report 2025: Scope, Trends, and Risks

A comprehensive review of press freedom conditions across Europe in 2025 reveals persistent and widespread threats to journalists and media outlets in both European Union (EU) Member States and candidate countries. The 2025 Monitoring Report issued by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners documents 1,481 verified press freedom violations affecting 2,377 journalists and media-related entities across 36 countries from January through December 2025. These figures reflect ongoing structural challenges to media independence and safety throughout the continent.

The report, compiled by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI), synthesises data recorded in the Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) database, which aggregates alerts from national press freedom monitors and civil society actors. Its methodology combines quantitative counts of violations with qualitative analysis of emerging threats, offering one of the most detailed annual assessments of Europe’s media freedom landscape.

Key Patterns and Threat Categories
The violations documented span a wide array of hostile actions and pressures. Verbal attacks, smear campaigns, and intimidation were the most frequently recorded types of violations, underscoring how reputational harassment remains a common tactic against media workers. Digital threats — including online harassment, hate speech, and technology-facilitated abuses such as hacking and spoofing — continued to rise, illustrating the increasing role of online environments in press freedom risk. Political actors were identified as significant sources of pressure, often employing legal mechanisms, disinformation narratives, or state authority to influence reporting and restrict independent journalism.

Thematic Focus and Structural Insights
The 2025 report is structured into thematic chapters that deepen understanding of three major areas of concern. One examines the impunity of crimes against journalists, noting persistent gaps in accountability for threats and attacks. Another explores the spread of foreign agent laws and related narratives, which target media organisations with accusations of being influenced by foreign funding or interests. A third addresses the continued use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) — vexatious legal actions meant to burden and silence critical reporting.

The report also includes detailed country analyses focused on specific EU Member States and candidate countries where press freedom risks were particularly acute during the year, providing contextual insights into national dynamics and patterns.

Implications for Media Freedom in Europe
Overall, the 2025 Monitoring Report highlights that threats to journalists in Europe are not isolated to one type of actor or region but are widespread and multifaceted. Sustained verbal harassment, digital hostility, political interference, and legal pressure contribute to an environment where independent reporting faces repeated obstacles. The aggregated data and thematic exploration presented in the report aim to inform policymakers, advocate for stronger protective frameworks, and support civil society efforts to defend media freedom across Europe.

Reference –

MFRR Monitoring Report 2025: 1,481 press freedom violations across 36 European countries