Call for Leadership at European Union Level on Media Pluralism and Transparency of Ownership

In its submission to the European Commission high-level international conference on freedom of expression in the Western Balkans and Turkey on May 6 in Brussels, the Open Society Foundations presented concerns and recommendations on freedom of expression and media in South Eastern Europe, including:

• Transparency of ownership: political and business interests
• Politicisation of the media in policy and practice
• Independence of media regulators
• Challenges stemming from internet governance
• Investigative journalism: emergence of new topics and platforms
• Professionalisation and self-regulation

The Open Society Foundations also called for leadership at the European Union level on media pluralism and transparency of ownership to ensure commitment to agreed standards within EU Member  States, the Western Balkan region and beyond. The Commission can play a direct role, on the basis of Articles 2 and 6 of the Lisbon Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, in reminding governments that European values and standards must be incorporated into the legislative process. Ambivalent signals from inside the EU do harm to the progress towards freedom of expression and media freedom in South Eastern Europe.

The full submission is available for download below.

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