RSF: ‘Press freedom’ gap between Greece and EU has widened

The situation of press freedom in Greece has deteriorated according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2023 World Press Freedom Index, as the Mediterranean country ranked 107th out of 180 countries.

“Press freedom in Greece remains problematic”, Pavol Szalai, RSF Head of EU/Balkans Desk, told EURACTIV.

Szalai stressed that the gap between Greece and the rest of the EU has widened (23 places away from the second to the last EU country – Malta, while in 2022, Greece was 17 places away – from Bulgaria).

“While in general the differences between EU countries have reduced significantly in the new Index, the stagnating Greece has been left behind,” he noted.

For the expert, the surveillance of Greek journalists with the Predator spyware and by the secret services has recently been the “most serious attempt on press freedom in an EU member state”.

“This is reflected by the fact that Greece keeps the last position in the EU in the Index,” he said.

In terms of the political and legal environment, he stressed that Predatorgate takes a high toll on press freedom in Greece.

“Several journalists seem to have been under arbitrary surveillance. Moreover, the government and justice system’s response has been highly inadequate,” he added.

Greece’s overall quality of press freedom has slightly deteriorated (from 55.52 to 55.20 on a scale of 100). That suggests that the improved position of Greece (108th to 107th on a scale of 180 countries) can be attributed to the fall of other countries, according to Szalai.

The RSF also hailed the recent arrest of two suspects in the case of the killing of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz. The journalist was assassinated on 9 April 2021 and the arrests took place just a few days before the publication of RSF’s report.

“We ask the authorities to apprehend all perpetrators including the mastermind of the assassination. The statement of the Minister of Citizen’s protection suggests the government is not blind to critique, which is good news,” Szalai said.

“Such domestic and international critique should be taken very seriously by the authorities when it comes to the resolution of Giorgos Karaivaz’s murder as well as to the other issues of press freedom”, he concluded.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)