Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
Recent meetings
| Date | Commissioner / Cabinet | Topic | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 2025 | Gesine Heinrich Cabinet member | Meeting with civil society organisations from BiH on reform processes in NiH | — |
| 11 Nov 2025 | Gesine Heinrich Cabinet member | Meeting with civil society organisations from BiH on reform processes in NiH | SRC |
Mission & Goals
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is a regional network of non-governmental organisations dedicated to promoting independent, evidence-based journalism, media freedom, and democratic accountability in South-East Europe. BIRN works to strengthen transparency, the rule of law, and respect for human rights through investigative reporting, in-depth analysis, and capacity-building support to journalists, media outlets and civil society actors. Through its regional cooperation model, BIRN combines local expertise with cross-border collaboration to address issues such as corruption, governance, justice, gender equality, and disinformation, while fostering public debate and informed policymaking.
EU Legislative Interests
- Regulation on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act) - Regulation on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act) - European Media Freedom Act - Directive on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (anti-SLAPP Directive) - General Data Protection Regulation - Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence - Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) - EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy - EU enlargement policy and related rule of law and media freedom benchmarks for Western Balkans countries
Communication Activities
- Publications and editorial outputs: investigative reporting, analytical articles, and opinion pieces published on Balkan Insight addressing EU legislation and policy developments, including the European Media Freedom Act, the Digital Services Act, and EU enlargement and rule of law processes in the Western Balkans. - Research reports and policy-oriented publications: thematic reports and monitoring outputs focusing on issues such as disinformation, online harms, media integrity, and governance, often referencing relevant EU frameworks and standards. - Events and public discussions: organisation of regional conferences, panel discussions, and workshops bringing together journalists, civil society representatives, policymakers, and experts to discuss EU-related topics such as media freedom, digital regulation, and democratic governance. - Capacity-building and training programmes: initiatives aimed at strengthening journalists’ and civil society actors’ understanding of EU standards and policies, including ethical reporting, gender-sensitive journalism, and digital rights. - Advocacy and outreach: participation in public debates, stakeholder consultations, and engagement with regional and international partners to raise awareness of EU policy implications in South-East Europe. - Communication materials and campaigns: dissemination of key findings and messages through newsletters, social media channels, and targeted communication products linked to ongoing projects. Examples of BIRN’s work can be found at: - https://www.balkaninsight.com - https://birn.eu.com
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
- Global Forum for Media Development - Global Investigative Journalism Network
Organisation Members
BIRN Albania BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina BIRN Kosovo BIRN Macedonia BIRN Montenegro BIRN Romania BIRN Serbia
Additional Information
N/A