In a comprehensive assessment of the past seven years, Minister of State Akis Skertsos delivered a detailed presentation on the government's actions regarding press freedom. During his speech, Mr. Skertsos argued that the 2019-2026 period constituted an era of significant institutional shielding and upgrading of the journalistic profession in Greece, despite the intense international criticism the country faced in previous stages.

Institutional Shielding and the Task Force for Journalists

The Minister's arguments centered on the legislative initiatives taken to protect journalists from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and the establishment of a specialized Task Force. According to Mr. Skertsos, Greece moved from a defensive stance to a proactive policy, incorporating the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) much faster than other member states.

"We are not claiming that everything was perfect from day one," the Minister noted, "but the distance we have traveled since 2022, when the country was in the crosshairs of international organizations, to today, May 2026, is impressive. The creation of the Registry for Print and Electronic Press (MET and MHT) brought transparency to ownership and state funding, ending past practices that blurred the landscape."

The Shadow of the Past and Crisis Management

Mr. Skertsos did not shy away from mentioning the difficult moments of this period, such as the assassination of Giorgos Karaivaz and the allegations regarding surveillance. He maintained that justice moved at its own pace and that the government provided all possible facilitation for the investigations. His rhetoric focuses on the idea that isolated cases should not characterize the entirety of a country's democratic function.

A significant role in his analysis was played by cooperation with international organizations. Greece, as he emphasized, did not ignore the reports from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) but used them as a roadmap for improvements. "Press freedom is not a static measure but a continuous achievement," he characteristically stated, adding that 2026 finds Greece in a much more mature position on the European map of rights.

Artificial Intelligence and the New Information Landscape

Looking to the future, the Minister of State highlighted the challenge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the next great battle for press freedom. With the arrival of advanced content generation models, the risk of disinformation (deepfakes) and algorithmic bias is visible. The Greek government, according to Mr. Skertsos, is promoting a framework for the ethical use of AI in media while simultaneously protecting the intellectual property rights of journalists.

  • Enhancing transparency in social media algorithms.
  • Subsidies for the digital transformation of regional media.
  • Educational programs for detecting fake news.

This strategy aims to make Greece a hub for reliable information in Southeast Europe. Mr. Skertsos concluded by saying that press freedom is inextricably linked to the economic independence of the media, something the government pursues through a healthy competitive framework.

Criticism and Counter-Arguments

Despite government assurances, the opposition and segments of the journalistic community remain skeptical. They point out that the concentration of media in a few business groups remains a structural problem of the Greek market. Furthermore, the implementation of new laws in practice often hits bureaucratic hurdles or a lack of political will for a real clash with established interests.

"Press freedom is not measured only by laws in the government gazette, but by the comfort of a journalist to investigate power without fearing for their job or safety," sources from the Journalists' Union (ESIEA) report.

In conclusion, Akis Skertsos' position reflects a government effort to permanently close the cycle of doubt and present Greece as a modern, European state governed by the rule of law. Whether this image corresponds to the daily reality of journalists will be judged by the resilience of institutions under the pressures that the approaching election period will inevitably bring.