For Immediate Release: XIX South East Europe Media Forum Concludes in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
Chișinău, Moldova, 20 November 2025 – The 19th edition of the South East Europe Media Forum (SEEMF) was successfully held on 17-18 November 2025 in Chișinău, Moldova with an additional press freedom workshop for local journalists as post-event on 19 November 2025.
The two-day SEEMF brought together around 100 prominent figures from the media sector, including editors-in-chief, media owners, CEOs, journalists, media experts, diplomats, policymakers, and academics. In addition to the in-person participants, more than 300 international attendees from over 20 countries joined the forum online after registering. The event was also streamed live online in Moldova.
SEEMF focused on the pressing challenges faced by media, media organizations and explored the enemies of media and how to tackle them.
SEEMF was hosted at the Bristol Central Park Hotel and featured a comprehensive agenda. Opening speakers included Christoph Plate, Director of the Media Programme South East Europe at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Sofia; Alexandru Codreanu, CEI National Coordinator for Moldova and Head of the Department for Cooperation with the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova; Noel Curran, General Director of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Geneva; and Oliver Vujovic, Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).
The CEI National Coordinator for Moldova, Alexandru Codreanu, took part in the opening session, recalling that the SEEMF is a major initiative in the field of media and fully in line with the CEI’s mission and priorities regarding the safeguarding of media freedom and pluralism as a fundamental right of democratic societies.
For Noel Curran, director-general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the cooperation with SEEMO is particularly important, and the South East Europe Media Forum remains an invaluable platform where public media representatives from different countries meet, exchange, and build partnerships.
SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic recalled that SEEMF is the biggest regular annual media conference in Southeast, Central, and Eastern Europe since 19 years.
The forum featured a welcoming address from Igor Grosu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
A special keynote address was delivered by Stella Avallone, Ambassador of Austria to Moldova.
During the forum, the annual CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism was presented, recognizing exceptional contributions to investigative reporting.
The event featured a series of engaging discussions on pivotal topics, including:
* *Media and Politics in Moldova*
* *In Search of Sustainability in the Media Industry*
* *Promoting European Values in the Media to Foster Democracy*
* *Investigative Journalism: Defending Democracy in Times of War*
* *Challenges for the Media in the Context of Hybrid Warfare and Foreign Propaganda*
The South East Europe Media Forum serves as a key platform for dialogue and collaboration among media professionals, policymakers, and civil society groups across the South, East and Central European region. The 19th edition was organized in partnership with the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation – Media Programme South East Europe (KAS), the Central European Initiative (CEI), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and the German News Service (Deutsche Welle/DPA), alongside additional partners including the Austrian Embassy in Moldova, the Center for Investigative Journalism of Moldova, and the Școala de Jurnalism din Moldova.
For more information, please visit www.seemf.org
Contact: Anna Schmidt (assistant1@seemo.org)