According to the Resource Center on Media Freedom in Europe, Bulgaria is one of the most problematic countries in the European Union (EU) regarding restraints on media freedom (Martino, 2021). As reported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the decline of freedom of media in the country started in 2006 when Bulgaria was ranked 36th in the world and, in spite of its accession to the EU, the situation worsened, reaching its peak in 2021 when it was positioned at the 112th place (World Press Freedom Index, 2021). Various factors have contributed to the troubling situation of the member state such as concentration of media ownership and lack of transparency, violence and intimidation against journalists, nontransparent funding of media outlets, absence of public trust and many more (Martino, 2021).
Challenges to media freedom
According to Freedom House, the freedom of expression and press freedom in Bulgaria are protected by the country’s constitution, however, many journalists have been facing threats and pressure from public and private media oversight (Freedom in the World , 2020). The Mapping Media Freedom Platform by the European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) recorded four cases of attacks on journalists and camera operators on election day in 2024 (Alerts, 2024).
Moreover, according to a report by Balkan Free Media Initiative, the media sphere in Bulgaria remains deeply influenced by powerful pro-government actors which have made television a dominant tool, while the print industry has continued to shrink (The Invisible Hand of Media Censorship in the Balkans, 2024, p. 12). Disinformation has also played a crucial role in the erosion of media freedom in recent years, thus creating an environment inclined to harmful foreign influence. This has contributed to pro-Russia disinformation and propaganda disseminated through Russian channels and pro-Russia Bulgarian figures (2024, p. 12).
Media Pluralism
As argued by the European Commission in the Rule of Law Report on Bulgaria, the legal framework of media pluralism in the country is grounded in a series of constitutional provisions and legal instruments, such as the Radio and Television Act. However, in reality, the legal structure is not adequately implemented and even though the Audiovisual Media Regulatory Authority (CEM) is believed to be independent and transparent, the absence of resources hinders its competence. Moreover, the Radio and Television Act does not prohibit political actors from owning media outlets, as a result, lack of transparency of possession and links between politicians and media organizations were identified as the two main concerning factors affecting the freedom of media (European Commission, 2020, p. 1).
Moreover, according to Freedom House, many outlets rely on state funding through advertising and thus have been influenced to produce government-friendly content. Moreover, in 2019 two developments affected the situation of media freedom in the country negatively. Firstly, the most significant private media group – Nova Broadcasting Group, was sold to two Bulgarian businessmen. Secondly, a pro-government journalist and former politician was elected as a director general of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT). These events brought changes and some investigative journalists were silenced or dismissed which added extra pressure on the remaining media workers to adhere to the new pro-governmental editorial stance (Freedom in the World , 2020). Therefore, the Balkan Free Media Initiative suggested that foreign ownership in the media sector would pose an opportunity for Bulgaria by increasing competition and diversity, thereby improving media freedom (The Invisible Hand of Media Censorship in the Balkans, 2024, p. 13)
The EU’s EMFA and its implementation in Bulgaria
Throughout the years, the European Commission has undertaken many measures to address media freedom and pluralism in the EU. Most recently, in September 2022 the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) was proposed, a year later the European Parliament (EP) adopted the act and political agreements were reached which culminated in its official coming into force in 2024. (European Commission, n.d.). In general, the EMFA is a new set of regulations established to safeguard the independence and plurality of media inside the EU (European Media Freedom Act, n.d.). Moreover, its purpose is to guarantee that public and private media can perform internationally without pressure from the newly evolved digital transformation. Some of the key features that the EMFA protects are: editorial independence; journalistic sources being spied on by spyware and the removal of unjustified internet materials by big platforms. In addition, it promotes the transparency of media ownership, state advertising or audience measurement as well as the member states’ evaluation regarding media freedom and plurality (European Media Freedom Act, n.d.).
As a result, a report by the Balkan Free Media Initiative argued that the effectiveness of the EMFA in Bulgaria depends on the Bulgarian authorities’ political determination to enforce its provisions (2024, p. 15). However, the expectation that every member state has a National Regulatory Authority (NRA) which can effectively implement the Media Act represents a significant gap that can weaken the adoption. In this case, the EMFA would only provide safeguards of media freedom in theory but the practical implementation would about to become a requirement for the member states in the future (2024, p. 15). Bulgaria still needs to strengthen its legal framework and support freedom of media without political interference.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it has become apparent that Bulgaria faces significant challenges to its media freedom, including political influence, media concentration and disinformation. Despite the EU’s efforts through the EMFA, the member state has not implemented the provisions in practice which leads to the worsening of the situation. Therefore, there is a need for a stronger legal framework and better enforcement to ensure free and independent media in the country.
Bibliography
Balkan Free Media Initiative. (2024). The Invisible Hand of Media Censorship in the Balkans. Retrieved from: https://www.balkanfreemedia.org/european-media-freedom-act-in-the-balkans
European Commission. (2020). 2020 Rule of Law Report. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020SC0301&from=EN
European Commission. (n.d.). European Media Freedom Act. Retrieved from: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/protecting-democracy/european-media-freedom-act_en
Freedom House. (2020). Freedom in the World . Retrieved from: https://freedomhouse.org/country/bulgaria/freedom-world/2020
Mapping Media Freedom. (2024). Alerts. Retrieved from: https://www.mapmf.org/explorer?f.year=2024&f.specific_topic=Elections&f.type_of_incident=Intimidation%2Fthreatening&f.country=Bulgaria&sort=timestamp%3Adesc
Martino, F. (2021). Country factsheet: Bulgaria. Resouce Center on Media Freedom in Europe. Retrieved from https://www.rcmediafreedom.eu/Dossiers/Country-factsheet-Bulgaria
Reporters Wothout Borders. (2021). World Press Freedom Index. Retrieved from: https://rsf.org/en/2021-world-press-freedom-index-journalism-vaccine-against-disinformation-blocked-more-130-countries?year=2021&data_type=general
