Balkan agencies discuss countering disinformation in Trieste
In Trieste, Italy, 12 news agencies of the Association of Balkan News Agencies of Southeast Europe (ABNA-se), which includes ANSA, confirmed their intention to jointly counter fake news, protect press freedom and citizens’ right to information. This was reported by ANSA English.
These issues were discussed during the 34th ABNA-se General Assembly and the “Balkans Meet in Trieste” conference, organized by ANSA under the patronage of the Central European Initiative. Representatives of the media, politics, business, healthcare and science also took part in the discussions, speaking about the enlargement of the European Union into the Balkans.
Albania’s position on EU accession
Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha called Trieste “the gateway to Europe for the Balkans.” According to him, Albania plans to close all negotiating chapters on EU accession by next year.
Hoxha acknowledged that the plan is very ambitious and noted that the process is extremely bureaucratic, but the country is doing the necessary work. “We have a plan, and our goal is the EU,” he said.
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Agency cooperation and media support
ABNA Secretary General Kiril Valchev said that over the past three to four years, news agencies have demonstrated an example of responding to disinformation through stronger cooperation and the daily exchange of reliable news. According to him, this helps counter fakes spread on social media.
Alberto Barachini, undersecretary at the Presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers for information and publishing, who spoke via video link, stated the need to create a European fund to support the media sector and ensure a level playing field for everyone in Europe.
ANSA Director General Stefano De Alessandri called the agencies represented at the event an important pillar of information, press freedom and democracy. Marco Consalvo, president of the Trieste port authority, also stressed the importance of involving the Balkans in economic development projects, including those linked to the city’s port.
