Amidst Romania’s Super Election Year, the International Press Institute (IPI) and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners unveil their latest mission report, delving into the pressing issues surrounding media freedom in the country.

Romania faces a year of intense political campaigning as the country organises European and local elections in June, presidential elections in September and parliamentary elections in December. 

Against this backdrop, IPI and the other MFRR partners conducted an online fact-finding mission in Romania to assess the state of media freedom in the country. Meetings with Romania-based journalists, regulators, civil society groups, and lawyers were held in January 2024, with a follow-up mission planned for June in Bucharest. 

READ THE REPORT

 

This report summarises the findings of the first mission. The report highlights key challenges facing Romanian journalists and media including:

  • The corrosive influence of political party funds on media coverage
  • An alarming trend of vexatious SLAPP lawsuits on the media
  • A rising tide of online harassment against journalists and their sources

The report includes recommendations for authorities and policymakers to reduce media capture, improve journalist safety, and prevent legal harassment of the press.

These reflect landmark recent legislation from the European Union, such as the European Media Freedom Act and the Anti-SLAPP Directive, aimed at protecting media independence and journalists’ rights.

The publication was produced bz IPI, Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) and Free Press Unlimited (FPU) with contributions from partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). MFRR is a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries, and Ukraine. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.