France, May 3 -- By moving up three spots, France ranks among among the countries in a "fairly good situation", says RSF in its annual index published each year on World Press Freedom Day.

But this progress can be explained by a greater deterioration in other countries, says RSF's Pavol Szalai, in charge of the EU and Balkans regions.

"France remains 14th out of the 27 EU member states, which is not a very good position," Szalai told RFI pointing to a "mixed record".

Shortcomings in the French system were highlighted in September last year when French journalist Ariane Lavrilleux was arrested for allegedly compromising defence secrets in revelations over a joint military operation between France and Egypt.

She was held in police custo...