Cyprus falls to 80th place in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index

Cyprus has dropped to 80th place out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, as reported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). With a score of 56.9 out of 100, the nation remains the second-lowest ranked European Union member state, surpassing only Greece, which holds the 86th position. RSF officials noted a continuous decline from 26th place in 2021 to 80th in 2026, marking the sharpest decline in political scores within the Europe-Balkans region. Key concerns identified by Pavol Szalai, head of the RSF Prague bureau, include proposed legislation that would allow authorities to lift the confidentiality of journalistic sources and a potential law criminalizing the dissemination of fake news. Furthermore, the report highlights a pattern of government officials refusing to answer media inquiries and disputes regarding press accreditation during the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council. The country also recorded the lowest legal score in Europe, reflecting challenges regarding censorship, judicial sanctions, and access to information. While some reports note a slight rise for the occupied northern part of Cyprus at 82nd place, the overall assessment for the Republic remains negative.