OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Balkan Free Media Initiative

BFMI

BFMI was launched in 2021 by a group of media and advocacy experts concerned about the lack of action regarding the alarming decline of media freedom in Southeast Europe.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for external action

28 Nov 2025

Balkan Free Media Initiative submits the following joint recommendation, as member of the EU Media Advocacy Group. This document reflects a consolidated contribution from organisations working inside and outside the EU, committed to strengthening media freedom, information integrity and democratic resilience in partner countries. While we welcome the ambition of the Global Europe instrument to reinforce the EUs geopolitical and development objectives, the current proposal does not adequately recognise or resource independent journalism, media freedom, and information integrity as essential pillars of EU external action. Our submission calls for the explicit recognition of journalism as democratic and critical infrastructure; dedicated and long-term funding for public-interest media and resilient information ecosystems; strengthened crisis-response mechanisms; robust transparency, oversight, and anti-capture safeguards; and the integration of public-interest digital infrastructure, blended finance, and journalist-safety mechanisms into the instrument. These recommendations aim to ensure that Global Europe delivers the level of ambition required to counter foreign information manipulation and interference, address the structural decline of independent media, and reinforce democratic governance, accountability, and sustainable development in partner countries. The recommendations provided therefore set out the amendments needed to ensure that Global Europe fully aligns with EU and international commitments, including the UN Pact for the Future, the OECD Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media, and the Paris Declaration on Multilateral Action for Information Integrity and Independent Media. The full submission is attached in text format for your consideration.
Read full response

Meeting with Thomas Schmitz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

20 Nov 2025 · Media

Meeting with Julien Mousnier (Director Justice and Consumers)

23 Sept 2025 · Presentation of BFMI’s latest work, their contribution to the EU Democracy Shield and the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, and update on their upcoming research