Media Pluralism, Media Freedom, and Media Literacy in Bulgaria and Romania according to MPM 2026

Bulgaria and Romania represent a specific tier of risk within the European Union regarding the state of media freedom, pluralism, and literacy in the two neighbouring member states covered by the Bulgarian-Romanian Digital Media Observatory, the newly released report of the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) 2026 reveals. 

The 2026 monitoring exercise reveals that Bulgaria and Romania occupy a precarious position in the European media landscape. Both countries are currently assessed at a 64% risk level, placing them in the Medium-High Risk category. This score ranks them 24th out of 27 EU Member States, trailing significantly behind leaders such as Sweden (26% risk) and Germany (30% risk).

Critical takeaways include:

• Identical Risk Profiles: Bulgaria and Romania share the same overall risk score (64%), indicating similar structural weaknesses in their media ecosystems.
• Market Plurality Crisis: For Bulgaria, Market Plurality is the most problematic area, scoring a 79% (High Risk), driven by extreme concentration in the audiovisual sector and a lack of transparency in online media ownership.
• Legal and Political Stagnation: Despite the adoption of some EU-mandated updates (such as the Digital Services Act), substantial legislative gaps remain regarding the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) protections.
• Information Integrity Vulnerability: Protection of information integrity is a high-risk area, with Bulgaria serving as a significant hub for disinformation, particularly on platforms like TikTok, exacerbated by the absence of a comprehensive national strategy.
• Media Literacy Deficits: Social inclusiveness remains at high risk due to the lack of a coordinated national media literacy policy, leaving the public vulnerable to sophisticated foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

While Bulgaria and Romania perform better than "High Risk" outliers like Hungary (75%) and Malta (71%), they remain far removed from the "Very Low" or "Low Risk" bands occupied by Western and Northern European leaders.

The following table illustrates the disparity between the Black Sea region and the top-performing EU nations based on the MPM 2026 scoring exercise.

Analysis of Bulgaria’s Media Environment

The 2026 report for Bulgaria highlights a period of intense political instability—marked by eight parliamentary elections since 2021—which has direct consequences for media governance and independence.

1. Market Plurality: The Highest Area of Concern (79% Risk)

The Bulgarian media market is characterized by extreme concentration and economic fragility.

• Audiovisual Monopoly: Two major media groups (Nova Broadcasting Group and bTV Media Group) control 81% of gross advertising revenues and 77% of the total audience share.
• Ownership Transparency Gaps: Many digital-native media outlets fail to declare ownership to the Ministry of Culture. No authority has been designated to manage the national media ownership database as required by Article 6(2) of the EMFA.
• Fragile Viability: While advertising revenues have increased in the audiovisual and online sectors, media viability remains "fragile." The state provides no specific support schemes for news media, and only 9% of Bulgarian online users are inclined to pay for news.
• Commercial Influence: Editorial independence is highly vulnerable. Non-media business activities of media owners frequently influence editorial content, and there are no effective mechanisms to protect journalists from arbitrary interference following ownership changes.

2. Fundamental Protection (54% Risk)

While legal guarantees for freedom of expression exist, their practical application is often compromised.

• Defamation and SLAPPs: Although minimum fines for insult and defamation were reduced in 2025 to align with ECHR commitments, the lack of anti-SLAPP legislation remains a pressing issue. Journalists and civil society activists face "legal intimidation" aimed at discouraging public-interest scrutiny.
• Access to Information: In 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that the Bulgarian state failed to protect access to information in two high-profile cases. Furthermore, regulatory changes have restricted public access to notarial deeds in the Property Register—a critical tool for anti-corruption journalism.
• Journalistic Safety: Physical attacks, though fewer than in 2024, persist. Female journalists, in particular, face "aggressive rhetoric" and "misogynistic" online harassment. Impunity remains a risk, with only 5 of 13 alerts on the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform being resolved since 2017.

3. Political Independence (54% Risk)

Concerns persist regarding covert political control and the manipulation of state resources.

• State Advertising: Bulgaria lacks safeguards for the fair and transparent distribution of state advertising. There has been no progress in implementing Article 25 of the EMFA regarding these allocations.
• Public Service Media (PSM) Crisis: The Bulgarian National Television (BNT) faced a governance crisis in 2025. The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) was unable to elect a new Director General for years due to legal disputes and institutional tensions, leading to the previous director serving ad interim indefinitely.
• Influencer Advertising: There are currently no national measures regulating political advertising by influencers during electoral periods.

4. Social Inclusiveness (69% Risk)

This area is marked by a lack of comprehensive policy and widespread online hostility.

• Hate Speech: Online hate speech is described as "widespread," with reporting mechanisms remaining largely ineffective. Persistent aggressive rhetoric by political actors further impedes efforts to curb this trend.
• Media Literacy: There is a notable lack of governmental measures to advance a national media literacy policy. While civil society organizations (CSOs) remain active in this space, their impact is fragmented and lacks sustainable state support.
• Gender Imbalance: Despite a "feminization" of the journalism profession, the representation of women as experts in news and political content remains unbalanced.

The Digital Information Integrity Gap

Protection of information integrity is categorized as High Risk. Bulgaria lacks a comprehensive national strategy to address disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).

• Platform Deficiencies: Content moderation by Meta (Facebook) and YouTube is described as "insufficiently diligent," with controversial suspensions of user accounts across the political spectrum.
• TikTok as a Disinformation Hub: The platform is identified as a significant hub for election-related and general disinformation, which remains difficult to curb despite platform mitigation efforts.
• Sporadic Institutional Response: It was not until March 2026 that a temporary coordination mechanism was established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to counter hybrid threats ahead of elections.

Critical Recommendations for Reform

The MPM 2026 identifies several urgent actions required for Bulgaria and Romania to bridge the gap with EU leaders:

1. Legislative Alignment: Fully implement EMFA standards, specifically regarding the media plurality test (Art. 22) and the creation of an independent media ownership database (Art. 6).
2. Legal Protections: Adopt comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislation to protect journalists and CSOs from legal intimidation.
3. Regulatory Independence: Transpose Article 30 of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive to ensure national regulatory authorities have adequate financial and human resources, free from political influence.
4. Information Transparency: Repeal restrictions on public access to the Property Register and ensure non-discriminatory access for journalists to public institutions and the National Assembly.
5. National Media Literacy Policy: Establish a coordinated, state-backed national strategy for media literacy to build public resilience against disinformation and FIMI.

Analysis of Romania’s Media Environment

According to the general assessment rankings for 2026, Romania is classified within the Medium-High Risk band for media pluralism and freedom.

• Overall Score: 64%
• Risk Category: Medium-High Risk
• Comparative Standing: Romania shares an identical general risk score (64%) with Bulgaria and Greece, placing it among the group of EU nations facing significant challenges to media integrity and pluralistic offerings.

Overview of Risks

The score of 64% indicates that Romania faces substantial risks across the monitored pillars. While specific domestic legislation and political events for Romania are not detailed in the provided context, the "Medium-High Risk" classification (51%–66%) signifies that the preconditions for media pluralism and the independence of the media sector are under notable pressure.

3. In-Depth Results by Area

The MPM evaluates four key areas that impact media pluralism. Based on Romania's general assessment of 64%, the following structural areas are under scrutiny:

3.1 Fundamental Protection

This area considers the essential preconditions for media pluralism, including the existence of regulatory safeguards for freedom of expression and the right to information.

• Preconditions Monitored:
  • Effective regulatory safeguards to protect freedom of expression.
  • The right to seek, receive, and impart reliable information.
  • Favorable conditions for independent journalistic work.
  • The presence of independent and effective national regulatory authorities.
• Contextual Analysis: As a country in the 64% risk bracket, Romania likely faces challenges regarding the protection of information integrity online and the safety of the journalistic profession, common traits of the medium-high risk tier in the current monitoring cycle.

3.2 Market Plurality

Market Plurality assesses economic factors, ownership concentration, and the influence of commercial interests on editorial independence.

• Key Indicators:
  • Transparency of Media Ownership: The effectiveness of public registers and disclosure requirements.
  • Plurality of Media Providers: Concentration of media ownership in both traditional and digital sectors.
  • Media Viability: The economic sustainability of news organizations.
  • Editorial Independence: Protection of editorial choices from undue influence by owners or commercial sponsors.
• Contextual Analysis: Across the 2026 monitoring data, market plurality often represents the most problematic area for countries scoring in the 64% range, frequently reaching the "High" or "Very High" risk levels due to a lack of market data and high concentration in the audiovisual sector.

3.3 Political Independence

This area evaluates the level of political control over media outlets and the independence of public service media.

• Key Indicators:
  • Safeguards against political interference in media management.
  • Independence of public service media funding and appointments.
  • Regulation of state advertising to ensure fair and transparent distribution.
  • Safeguards against covert political control over commercial media providers.
• Contextual Analysis: Romania’s 64% assessment places its political independence in a category where concerns about political influence over private media and the allocation of state resources are typical.

3.4 Social Inclusiveness

Social Inclusiveness examines how well the media represents the cultural, linguistic, and social diversity of the population.

• Key Indicators:
  • Media accessibility for people with disabilities.
  • Representation of women in news and political content.
  • Sustainability and independence of local and regional media.
  • Effectiveness of measures to counter hate speech and promote media literacy.
• Contextual Analysis: In the medium-high and high-risk bands, social inclusiveness is often hindered by widespread online hate speech and a lack of comprehensive national policies to promote diversity standards within newsrooms.

4. Key Methodology and Findings

The 2026 results highlight a broader trend within the European Union where countries in the 64% score bracket (Romania, Bulgaria, Greece) demonstrate a persistent "Medium-High Risk" status. The lack of implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) standards—particularly concerning media ownership databases (Art. 6) and transparent audience measurement (Art. 24)—is a recurring theme for countries in this tier.

• Risk Profile: Romania's 64% score places it in the bottom quadrant of the EU rankings, specifically 24th out of 27 if following the specific ranking logic applied to identical scores in the snapshot data.
• Key Vulnerabilities: Based on the general MPM framework, these scores typically reflect deficiencies in anti-SLAPP legislation, fragile media viability, and ongoing concerns regarding the transparency of state advertising.

The Bulgarian report is authored by assist. prof. Orlin Spassov, prof. Nelly Ognyanova, and Nikoleta Daskalova
The Romanian report is authored by Raluca Toma, Marina Popescu, and Roxana Bodea

The full report can be accessed here