OSCE Media Development Forum in Tirana, Soreca: Improving working conditions for journalists

The presence of the OSCE organized yesterday, the ninth edition of the Media Development Forum, a dialogue platform between the media, state institutions and civil society. This year's forum focused on issues related to the safety of journalists, legislation affecting the media and the impact of artificial intelligence on the work of the media in Albania. Also present was the Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union in Tirana, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, who said that media freedom is at the center of the EU's enlargement policy, so he encouraged the Albanian government and public authorities to engage with the media community. and stakeholders to address the challenges. "All countries seeking to become member states in the EU must show their credible commitment to this by promoting freedom of speech and the media by addressing all the different aspects even where there are obstacles and difficulties the government and the authorities public authorities have the main responsibility to create a facilitating environment for the media. Therefore we continue to encourage the authorities to accelerate their efforts to address the difficulties that exist", said Soreca. Albania's EU membership negotiations are an opportunity to make progress in media freedom in Albania, Soreca emphasized, among other things. Even Ambassador Bruce Berton, the Chairman of the OSCE Presence in Albania, emphasized the presence's commitment to the cause of media freedom in the country. “It is essential that media are provided with the tools and institutional policies to help them navigate the rapidly changing information ecosystem in a responsible and ethical manner. In accordance with the principles of the OSCE, which the government is committed to implement as one of our 57 participating countries, Albanian public institutions must create the necessary space for the media to function without obstacles", he said.