Greece, Cyprus and Hungary Worst Offenders on Press Freedoms in EU

Why It Matters

Eroding press freedom undermines democratic accountability and the EU’s rule‑of‑law credibility, raising regulatory risk for investors and civil society.

Key Takeaways

• Greece tops EU press‑freedom blacklist, citing journalist wiretaps
• Cyprus, EU presidency holder, ranks second amid Orthodox Church media influence
• Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office targets independent outlets; future may change
• RSF warns EU‑wide spyware use breaches new Media Freedom Act
• New Hungarian prime minister‑elect pledges to dismantle surveillance office

Pulse Analysis

The latest Reporters Without Borders index places Greece at the bottom of the EU’s press‑freedom rankings, followed by Cyprus and Hungary. In Greece, the National Intelligence Service’s unresolved wiretapping of journalists has become a defining symptom of state‑led intimidation. Cyprus, which currently holds the EU’s rotating six‑month presidency, suffers from the Orthodox Church’s outsized sway over broadcast licensing and editorial lines. Hungary rounds out the trio, where the now‑defunct Sovereignty Protection Office was used to silence independent outlets and pressure state media. The findings underscore a sharp reversal in the continent’s democratic health after two decades of steady improvement.

The report also highlights a broader pattern of spyware deployment across the bloc. Revelations that Israel‑originated tools such as Pegasus and the US‑backed Paragon Solutions have been sold to European clients have raised alarms about the erosion of the EU’s own data‑privacy regime. While the European Commission’s Media Freedom Act, adopted last August, explicitly bans the use of surveillance software against journalists, RSF says dozens of member states—including Germany, France and Italy—remain in breach. Enforcement remains fragmented, with national prosecutors left to investigate, leaving journalists vulnerable to covert intrusion.

Politically, the rankings could pressure Brussels to tighten oversight ahead of the 2026 European Parliament elections. In Hungary, prime‑minister‑elect Peter Magyar has pledged to dismantle the Sovereignty Protection Office and shut down state broadcaster MTVA, moves that could improve the country’s score if implemented. Cyprus faces a credibility test as it steers the EU agenda from the presidency while grappling with domestic media capture. For investors and civil‑society actors, persistent press‑freedom violations signal regulatory risk and a weakening rule of law across the Union.