Stabilization-Association in Strasbourg/Zhupa: Voters were deprived of independent information,

At the Stabilization and Association Committee in Strasbourg, Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa referred to problems with the media, the safety of journalists and their freedom during the electoral campaign but also in normal periods.

The speech in Strasbourg:

The media environment in Albania is clearly visible in the OSCE-ODIHR report, which was also problematic during the elections that Albania just passed. The report clearly states that “The independence, diversity and integrity of the news available to voters are damaged by the dependence of most media on non-transparent financing from political and business interests, often supported by government contracts”.

“The concentration of media ownership further undermines the pluralism of news sources, contrary to international standards. According to several ODIHR EOM interlocutors, the ownership of some of the largest advertising houses by political interests hinders the fair distribution of advertising revenues, while the lack of reliable audience measurement hinders the transparent and accountable distribution of public advertising,” the report states.

In short, in Albania, citizens were unable to receive objective information, as OSCE/ODIHR points out in its preliminary report: "The vast majority of media outlets are perceived to be affiliated with the ruling party."

On 6 March, the Council of Ministers temporarily blocked access to TikTok – a broad ban that is incompatible with international standards. According to several interlocutors of the ODIHR mission, this ban had an additional negative impact on the ability of all candidates, including non-parliamentary parties, to campaign on equal terms. Journalists’ associations have taken the case to the Constitutional Court because we are clearly facing violations of constitutional rights.

In conclusion, the limited media environment and the failure to implement legal requirements in good faith deprived voters of independent, diverse, and in-depth information on the electoral race.

A serious problem in Albania remains the conditions to guarantee the safety and freedom of journalists. The Safe Journalist Network for the Western Balkans has monitored this issue and there has been an increase in violence against journalists in the last two years, 45 cases in 2024 and the first 6 months of 2025 marked 22 cases.

State institutions do not allow journalists to obtain official information, creating many problems in the standards of transparency and accountability and impeding the work of the media.

The EU is seeking structured dialogue and the adoption of the Anti-Slapping Directive, but there is no progress in this regard.

In the study conducted by Scidev, journalists cited insufficient legal protection (74.1%), political interference (71.9%), lack of institutional support within their newsrooms (62.6%), economic pressure from owners and advertisers (59%), and weak institutional responses from law enforcement and the judiciary (53.2%) as the most urgent threats to their professional safety and independence.

Clearly, during elections and even in normal times, Albania has failed to create a free environment for the media and journalists. The government has used and continues to use the connection with the media through their owners and economic interests as an extension of the government's propaganda lobby for political purposes.