Matthew Karnitschnig says independent journalism in Europe has become "an endangered species"

The European Commission has barred Euractiv from its background briefings after the outlet adopted what it described as a more critical approach to reporting on the "EU bubble," according to editor-in-chief Matthew Karnitschnig.

Founded in 1999 by French media publisher Christophe Leclercq, the Brussels-based outlet focuses on EU policy and says it aims to "unpack the complexities of EU politics, policies, and legislation."

In an article published on Friday, Karnitschnig argued that independent journalism in Europe has landed "on the enemies list," particularly in Brussels, where many media outlets depend on the funding and goodwill of EU institutions, foreign governments, and lobbyists.

"In fact, it has become an endangered species," he wrote, adding that independent voices are no longer "encouraged" in the EU.

"At the beginning of this year, we set about infusing the 'EU bubble' with a heavy dose of critical journalism," Karnitschnig continued. "Not all recipients reacted well, least of all the Commission, which recently banned us from its background briefings - the off-the-record sessions during which President Ursula von der Leyen's advisers seek to steer the message they're trying to send on any given issue to the press."

The editor cited several examples of coverage he said may have contributed to the decision, including the outlet's debunking of Commission claims surrounding von der Leyen's flight navigation incident in Bulgaria and its criticism of plans to establish a European intelligence service.

Brussels has long faced criticism over restrictions on free speech and the marginalization of independent voices, including from US Vice President J.D. Vance, who has warned that free expression across Europe is "in retreat."

During his speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance accused EU governments of "running in fear" of their own people, arguing that the main threat to democracy did not come from Russia or China, but from abandoning fundamental democratic values.