00:00Civil society and the media face increasing challenges in the EU, warns the rule of law report.
00:13This commission report takes the pulse of democratic institutions in the 27 member countries through four pillars.
00:19Of the 2025 rule of law report, there is no progress in respect of many specific recommendations.
00:25And of course, that is a concern. And so where we find that the space within which civil society operates or where we find that that is narrowed, for example,
00:37or where we find that the media are under undue pressure and influence, then we have to call that out.
00:45In Italy, a new law on security aimed at combating terrorism and organized crime could have repercussions for civil society and media freedom.
00:56So in the case of Italy, the important thing is to continue with the efforts to introduce the agreed reforms to the justice system.
01:05We have made recommendations having looked at the four key pillars in the rule of law area.
01:12So, for example, in the media, having a system in place for the funding of public service media in Italy is a specific recommendation that we have made.
01:23In Greece, Poland and Hungary, concerns persist about the independence and impartiality of media regulatory authorities.
01:32In Hungary, journalists and media outlets were accused of serving foreign interests and have been investigated.
01:38The crackdown on civil society in Hungary was also underlined in the report.
01:43Commissioner McGrath mentioned a deteriorating environment and a legal uncertainty that organizations have to face in the country.
