A special topic was the survey of KAS Media Program South East Europe about influences on Bulgarian journalists.

More than 80 representatives of EFJ partner organisations got together to discuss current issues of the European journalistic community and to formulate recommendations and statements about these topics. The motto of this year’s event was "Strengthening Labour Rights for Journalists: Unions as agents for change".

Christian Spahr, Head of KAS Media Program South East Europe, took part in a discussion on press freedom and labour rights of journalists in the Balkans. Further panelists were the General Secretary of the South East European Media Organisation (SEEMO), the President of the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro and the President of the Croatian Union of Journalists.

Spahr was talking about the media landscape in Bulgaria. He emphasized on the lack of effective legislative structures such as a print media law and collective labour agreements. "Many Bulgarian journalists feel themselves under pressure from politics and economy. Media strongly get themselves into an unofficial censorship. Such trends are shaping the working conditions in the media outlets," said Christian Spahr.

The panelists were concerned about the inadequate working conditions of journalists in many Balkan countries and cases of violence against reporters in the region.