Media Pluralism in Albania and the Alignment of National Legislation with Emfa – Legal Analysis

by Endirë BUSHATI, Armand BRAHO

Abstract
In April 2024, the European Commission adopted the European Media Freedom Act, a new regulatory framework designed to safeguard media pluralism and independence across the EU. The regulation addresses key concerns such as media concentration, transparency in media ownership, the distribution of state advertising, and the sustainable funding and editorial independence of public service media. It also introduces mechanisms to disclose conflicts of interest and reinforce protections against political or economic interference. In the context of Albania, this new legal framework gains particular relevance. Sixteen years after signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in 2006, Albania officially opened EU accession negotiations in July 2022 a significant milestone in its European integration path. However, according to the European Commission’s annual reports, Albania remains at a moderate level of preparation in the area of freedom of expression and media independence, which is part of the first cluster chapter on fundamental rights. The Albanian media landscape continues to face systemic challenges, including political and business interference, media concentration, lack of financial transparency, and limited independence of regulatory authorities. The proposed regulation addresses the issue of media concentration and focuses on the independence and sustainable funding of public service media, as well as transparency regarding media ownership and the distribution of state advertising.

Keywords: Freedom, Media Ownership, Pluralism.