Press freedom under attack in Europe, with Italy among the countries most at risk: what the report says

Article by Francesca Moriero – Journalist, Fanpage.it

Media freedom and pluralism are in sharp decline across the European Union. This is highlighted in the latest report published by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), compiled with the contribution of 43 human rights organizations from 21 member states. The document denounces a systematic attack on media independence, fueled by growing ownership concentration, opaque public funding, and regulatory weaknesses that undermine the effectiveness of the new European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which comes into force in August 2025. The report also highlights how journalists’ independence is undermined by intimidation, physical violence, and frivolous lawsuits (SLAPPs), as well as insufficient transparency about media ownership. In countries such as Croatia, France, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Netherlands, a few private groups dominate entire sectors of the media, drastically reducing pluralism. But the Italian case is among the most serious , according to Liberties.

The vulnerability of the Italian public service

In Italy, the Meloni government has yet to adopt effective measures to ensure transparency in media ownership or prevent conflicts of interest . Particularly alarming is the situation at RAI, Italy’s public service broadcaster, governed by the so-called “Renzi Law” (No. 220/2015), which allows the government and parliamentary majority to appoint almost the entire board of directors. This configuration would thus make the public broadcaster highly exposed to political pressure. The CEO, chosen by the government, enjoys broad management powers and spending freedom, contrary to the principles of independence established by the EMFA. In May 2024, two appeals to the Lazio Regional Administrative Court challenged the legitimacy of the RAI board of directors’ appointment procedure, deemed to be contrary to EU regulations. Despite this, the new board was installed on October 1st. The report also highlights a climate of intense self-censorship and internal pressure, evidenced by the emblematic case of writer Antonio Scurati: the cancellation of his anti-fascist monologue on Serena Bortone’s program, and the subsequent disciplinary proceedings against him, sparked strong reactions. Usigrai had called a general strike for May 6, 2024, in which 75% of its members joined, denouncing the transformation of RAI into “a government press organ.”

Italy remains without reforms and at risk of infringement

The report also denounces institutional inaction. The General Assembly of Public Service Broadcasting, an event promoted by the RAI Parliamentary Oversight Commission to essentially initiate a discussion on reforms, was held in November 2024, but the conclusions remained unresolved. “It is truly disheartening to read the 2025 Report on Freedom of the Press, produced by Liberties, which once again presents a truly worrying picture for Italy,” stated Barbara Floridia, President of the RAI Oversight Commission. According to the president, “the problems related to press freedom and media independence remain; in some cases, they have even worsened.” Floridia accuses the majority of having betrayed the spirit of the General Assembly and denounces the blockade of the RAI Oversight Commission, which has been at a standstill for over six months: “An unacceptable situation that is impeding democratic oversight by a fundamental guarantee body.” The Commission president then warned that the risk of infringement proceedings by the EU is very real and that “blocking the reform and holding the Commission hostage means dragging the country into a dead end.” She then asked Giorgia Meloni: “Faced with this latest warning from Europe, how will you react? Will you have the courage to tell your majority that it’s time to do something concrete? The violation of the European Media Freedom Act that will become apparent in August will damage not only the country’s international image, but above all our democracy.”

Floridia then concludes: “The reform of public service broadcasting and the unblocking of the RAI oversight commission must become a priority for Parliament, otherwise the responsibility for making Italy the laughing stock of Europe on media freedom will continue to rest entirely with this majority.”

The Angelucci case and the concentration of the media

Beyond RAI, the report highlights the growing concentration of ownership in the Italian publishing sector. Of particular concern are the operations of the Angelucci group, led by League MP Antonio Angelucci, which already controls newspapers such as Il Giornale, Libero, and Il Tempo. The announced acquisition of the AGI news agency by the same group would, according to Liberties, represent a further step toward reducing pluralism in our country: the lack of transparency regarding ownership and the intertwining of media, economic, and political power would exacerbate the risk of a press that is increasingly less independent and increasingly biased toward partisan interests. The lack of regulatory intervention to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure an equitable distribution of media power, the report notes, would further weaken the independence of the Italian information system.

Pressure, threats and gag complaints

The 2025 report also notes serious violations of freedom of expression. In Italy, as in other European countries, journalists have been subjected to threats, physical attacks, and SLAPPs, i.e., lawsuits designed to silence the press. In March 2024, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè filed a €5 million lawsuit against L’Espresso for an investigation into her business history. In June, Minister Adolfo Urso demanded compensation of between €250,000 and €500,000 from Il Foglio and Il Riformista. These are clearly not isolated incidents, but part of a trend that calls into question the very possibility of investigative journalism in Italy. The report also notes the attack suffered by journalist Andrea Joly, which Senate President Ignazio La Russa commented on ambiguously. While condemning the attack, La Russa insinuated that “the journalist should have identified himself” and questioned whether “his presence on the scene was truly a coincidence.” The picture emerging from the report is therefore alarming. Liberties reiterates that press freedom is essential for the proper functioning of democracy: “When the media act as a government mouthpiece,” the report states, “they cloud public debate and undermine trust in the news.”

In this climate, disinformation proliferates and political power can operate unhindered. The hope, according to the report, is that the European Union will not simply write laws, but will also commit to enforcing them. Italy, in particular, is at a crossroads: either it moves toward genuine reform that guarantees rights, or it will continue to slide in the press freedom rankings, under the increasingly concerned eyes of the EU.