Albania is currently consulting a draft Decision of the Council of Ministers that would establish procedures for screening certain foreign direct investments (FDI) on grounds of security and public order. The initiative aims to align Albania with the EU framework on investment screening, notably Regulation (EU) 2019/452, which allows states to review investments that may affect strategic interests.
The draft regulation is broad in scope, but one aspect is particularly relevant: freedom of the media is explicitly included as a factor that can trigger investment screening. Moreover, due to transitional provisions, media-related investments are among the few areas where screening would apply immediately, even before Albania’s accession to the EU.
According to the government’s explanatory document, this approach reflects the view that modern security risks increasingly include hybrid and informational threats, such as disinformation and undue influence over public discourse. Media and information ecosystems are therefore treated as strategically sensitive sectors alongside more traditional areas of concern.
While the draft does not regulate media content or journalism, it gives an inter-ministerial executive body the power to approve, condition, or block certain investments. Decisions affecting ownership or financing can have direct implications for media pluralism and editorial independence, particularly in a financially fragile media environment.
At the same time, the draft does not define what constitutes an “impact on freedom of the media,” nor does it specify how influence or control should be assessed in practice. This lack of clarity may create legal uncertainty for media organisations, investors, and donors, even where screening is not intended.
European standards emphasise that measures affecting media ownership or sustainability must be necessary, proportionate, and foreseeable, with effective safeguards in place.