site.btaInternational Organizations Assess Condition of Media Freedom in Bulgaria

A coalition of international organizations working in the field of press freedom is conducting a fact-finding mission in Bulgaria between Wednesday and Friday. The delegation represents the Platform for the Safety of Journalists under the Council of Europe, and the Media Freedom Rapid Response, the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) reported on Wednesday.

The experts will meet with representatives of institutions such as the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Council for Electronic Media, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Commission for Personal Data Protection, and the Central Election Commission. Talks are also planned with diplomatic missions, national media such as the Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television, journalist organizations, trade unions, experts, civil society organizations, and academia.

The focus of the visit is media freedom and pluralism, the safety of journalists, regulations in the sector, the problem of SLAPP lawsuits, the transparency of media ownership, and the reform process stemming from the European Media Freedom Act.

A final press conference with initial conclusions and recommendations will be held at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Partners in the initiative include ARTICLE 19, AEJ, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Broadcasting Union, European Federation of Journalists, Index on Censorship, International Press Institute, Reporters Without Borders, and Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa.