International Media Freedom Mission Arrives in Bulgaria

From 25 to 26 September, a coalition of press freedom organisations will visit Sofia to assess Bulgaria’s media landscape, engaging with high-level stakeholders and civil society to evaluate the health of independent journalism. The mission—commissioned via the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)—is led by groups including ARTICLE 19, RSF, IPI, the European Federation of Journalists, Index on Censorship, and others.

Over the two days, the delegation will meet with Bulgaria’s President, the Ministries of Justice and Interior, the Office of the General Prosecutor, the Council of Electronic Media (CEM), the Commission for Personal Data Protection, the Central Election Commission, and diplomatic missions. They will also engage with journalists, editors, academic researchers, media unions, civil society groups, and national public broadcaster representatives.

The mission’s objective is to “take the pulse” of key issues constraining media freedom in Bulgaria: journalist safety, media regulation, pluralism, public broadcasting, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), media ownership, defamation law, and planned reforms under the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

On 26 September from 09:30 to 11:00, the delegation will host a press briefing at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian Press Agency (49 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd) to present preliminary findings and recommendations. Translation services will be provided, and registration is open to all media participants.

This mission marks a vital step in international scrutiny of Bulgaria’s media environment at a moment when many European states are confronting challenges to press freedom. It underscores the importance of external oversight, accountability, and cross-border collaboration in upholding the principles of independent journalism.

Reference – 

Bulgaria: Mission to examine media freedom and independent journalism