The European Commission is deeply concerned with the issues of press freedom and pluralism in Bulgaria, EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes has said.

"From a judicial point of view, it is up to the member states to ensure press freedom and pluralism," Kroes has told the Bulgarian Capital Daily.

She added, however, that the European Commission is "really concerned" with the Balkan country's media freedom situation.

The European Commissioner has pointed out that the latest Reporters without Borders ranking placed Bulgaria last among all EU countries, saying this is "alarming."

She also reminded that there has been growing violence against Bulgarian journalists, according to OSCE.

Last week, Kroes held an event on digital media in Sofia and had a discussion with representatives of Bulgarian media centered around the issue of media freedom.

Representatives of smaller media had almost no opportunity to speak at the round table, with almost the entire time being occupied by envoys of mainstream outlets.

A number of smaller media however managed to voice a call for the issue of media freedom to be included in the EU Co-operation and Verification Mechanism for Corruption and Organized Crime, under which Bulgaria has been placed since accession in 2007.

In her interview for Capital Daily, Kroes has confirmed that the European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against Bulgaria over irregularities in the selection  of companies to build the platforms for digital TV distribution in the country.

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