After last year's fall, Kosovo rises to media freedom: EU urges government “to maintain this progress”

EU chief in office in Kosovo Eva Palatova says that this progress now needs “to be maintained”.

“Encouraged to see Kosovo move for 15 countries to the World Reporters Without Borders Freedom Index. This progress should now be preserved by public officials and political establiment, which share responsibility for ensuring an environment that enables media functioning. The EU will back”, she wrote on X.

The rise comes after the alarming fall of a year earlier, where Kosovo was the lowest in the region.

The Kosovo Journalists' Association saw this development as a positive turn after a difficult period for the media.

The report also values the work of the judiciary.

Kosovo has reportedly marked an increase in the annual Reporters Without Borders Freedom Index, following the alarming fall a year ago”.

According to the report, the important factor is the Constitutional Court's decision on the Law of Independent Commission for Media, listed as unconstitutional reform, which was postponed by the Government of Kosovo.

The report stresses that the judiciary is dealing with journalists' cases of priority, though legal pressure has not disappeared.

A continuing problem remains the use of SLAPP indictments by businesses and politicians against investigative journalists.

The report describes an environment where journalists work but remain subject to political attacks and public discreditment.

“Although journalists successfully work to keep politicians responsible, they continue to be the target of political attacks”, the report said.

It also points out that independent media often face labels such as “work for the enemy”, popular in social networks.

The report also cites boycotts of private media prior to the government's 2025 elections.

Also, concern over pressure on public broadcasters has been raised RTK and political influence on its independence.

According to Reporters Without Borders' assessment, the media market in Kosovo remains limited by small size and ethnic divisions.

The EU has confirmed that it will continue supporting the media environment in Kosovo.

However, the report warns that media freedom remains fragile.

He cites politicised “disorder, SLAPP, poor access to information and risks to the security of journalists”.

On the social side, journalists continue to be the object of deinformation and attacks on social networks.

They are often accused without basis for collaboration with “enemy”, language used by political and religious groups.

Even though there has been no murder of journalists since 2005, the legacy of post-war impunity remains.

The report also highlights cases of threats, physical attacks and surveillance against journalists in recent years.

On the other hand, the ruling Vetevendosje party has described the establishment as evidence of press freedom progress.

According to her, the influence of business groups on the media remains a continuing and internationally recognised problem.

Her statement says private editorials are exposed to “interventions by powerful political or business groups”.