Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its annual World Press Freedom Index on Friday, with Greece once again recording the worst performance among European Union member states – ranking 89th out of 180 countries. This marks a one-place drop from its position in the 2024 index.
“In Greece, press freedom is really stifled by the impunity of crimes committed against journalists,” said Pavol Szalai, the head of the EU-Balkans office at RSF, referencing the 2021 murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz. “There has been a trial and the accused were acquitted,” he noted.
“There has also been the biggest surveillance of journalists in the EU. In Greece, more than 10 media professionals were targeted by Predator spyware, which gave its name to the now-famous Predatorgate affair,” he added.
The top 15 countries in the index were all in Europe, with Norway ranking first, followed by Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.