The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) on 6-7 November 2025, the fifth Stand Up for Journalism workshop aimed to discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism, addressing youth and unions’ strength in shaping the future of the profession.  The event took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Torsten Asbjørn Andersen, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, opened the workshop with his keynote speech on the Copenhagen Declaration that was signed on 4 November on the importance of independent media and culture in Europe (1).  It is expected…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in welcoming the publication of the 2025 EU Enlargement Package and highlights key media freedom developments and concerns that should shape negotiations with candidate countries moving forward. Our organisations welcome the sharpening of criticism of certain countries engaging in egregious media freedom violations by the Commission in this year’s report, particularly Serbia and Georgia, and stress that assessments for all countries must now translate into effective progress on media freedom, media pluralism and freedom of expression. The Enlargement Package recognises freedom of expression, media freedom, and…

On 7 November 2025, Croatian journalist Melita Vrsaljko, a contributor to Faktograf and Klimatski portal, was found guilty by the Municipal Court in Zadar, of disturbing public order after defending herself from a physical attack that occurred in July 2024 while she was reporting on illegal waste dumping. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Croatia — SNH and HND — and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in condemning this ruling, which sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom and Croatian journalists. The attack dated back to 15 July 2024, when Melita Vrsaljko was assaulted in the village…

The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) today join partner organisations in writing to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to raise further alarm over the funding and governance crisis at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), the country’s public broadcaster. The EFJ and IFJ join calls for the government to immediately release the funds owed to RTK so that salaries can be paid and the broadcaster can continue to operate. We further call on the Assembly of Kosovo to restore RTK’s legal governance structures and appoint the remaining board members to ensure the election of a permanent Director…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing, in a letter to the Agenzia Nova, our serious concern over the recent dismissal of its journalist Gabriele Nunziati, which we consider a violation of media freedom and of the journalistic profession. Gabriele Nunziati was dismissed for asking a question deemed “inappropriate” to a representative of a political body. In the letter, which was sent on 10 November, we call for the journalist’s immediate reinstatement.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins partners of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the safety of journalists in outlining our support for independent journalists in Hungary amidst an enduring climate of political harassment and demonisation, following a recent visit to the country. During a one-day mission to Budapest on 22 October 2025, partner organisations of the Platform met with journalists, media representatives, legal experts and representatives of civil society to discuss key issues affecting media freedom, rule of law and free expression. Stakeholders described a severely restricted media environment within which independent journalism operates, while also highlighting the…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the International Press Institute (IPI) in urging Kosovo Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti to ensure Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) staff receive their salaries and to address the critical RTK budget issue, which was raised in the recently released EU enlargement country report.  

Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati, Brussels correspondent for the Agenzia Nova news agency, was told his collaboration with the agency was stopped on 27 October after asking European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho a question about Israel’s responsibility for the reconstruction of Gaza. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) condemn the dismissal of the journalist and criticise the Agenzia Nova news agency for having censored Nunziati, preventing him from carrying out his job freely. At a European Commission press briefing in Brussels on 13 October, Nunziati asked the spokesperson Paula Pinho: “You’ve repeatedly said that Russia should pay for the reconstruction of…

To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) honours the memory of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of truth and demands justice for the crimes committed against them. The killing of a journalist is an attack on freedom of expression, an assault on the public’s right to know and a fundamental threat to democracy. Tragically, this past year alone has seen a disturbing pattern of violence and inaction, with four killings of journalists in Europe in October alone: three in Ukraine and one…

On 2 November, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates across the world to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI). We demand that governments adopt a binding international instrument to protect journalists and hold their attackers to account. The EFJ and IFJ condemn the fact that, since the launch of this commemorative Day by the United Nations 12 years ago, intimidation and violence perpetrated against journalists have continued to grow. Journalists covering demonstrations are being beaten, pepper-sprayed or shot with rubber bullets, even though they…

On 29 October 2025, the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) was falsely accused once again of ‘supporting’ the ongoing anti-corruption protests by the newly formed, pro-government Association of Journalists of Serbia (ANS) and tabloids. This dangerous accusation, publicly backed up by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, stemmed from NUNS fulfilling its core mission: providing safety equipment to journalists reporting on protests amid the increased threats and violence they have faced for almost a year.  The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) strongly condemn this deliberate attempt to discredit our members’ unwavering support for journalists, as well as President…

In the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of the Novi Sad railway canopy collapse, which killed 16 people on 1 November 2024, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) spoke with Božidar Milovac, a Serbian student and journalist from Novi Sad. While Milovac usually reports on politics and social issues for several media outlets, he has spent the past year primarily covering the massive anti-corruption protests that erupted after the tragedy. These protests have been marked by widespread attacks and violence against journalists. Milovac is no exception: he has been hindered in his work, including verbal intimidation, and had his phone…

While Bulgaria has experienced modest progress on media freedom in the last four years, the situation remains undermined by persistent structural, legal and political challenges, with urgent action needed by government and public authorities to push forward both domestic and EU-mandated reforms. These are the key findings of a media freedom report published today following a three-day joint fact-finding mission to the country between 24-26 September 2025 by the partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), which includes the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). It provides an executive summary of…

On 1 November last year, sixteen people were killed when the Novi Sad Canopy Railway collapsed. This tragedy sparked nationwide protests against government corruption that continue to this day. While Serbian prosecutors have eventually filed indictments against thirteen individuals in relation to the collapse, protesters demanding justice and journalists reporting on the protests and the response by authorities continue to face severe violence and repression, mostly at the hands of public officials and law enforcement. In the lead-up to the first anniversary of this fatal incident, we, the partners of the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of…

War correspondent Olena Gramova and cameraman Yevgen Karmazin, both working for State-funded news organisation Freedom Media, were killed by a drone attack in the city of Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on 23 October. A third reporter, Alexander Kolychev, was injured and taken to hospital. The International and the European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) join their affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU), in condemning this heinous crime and call on the authorities to launch an independent investigation to identify those responsible. Freedom Media reported that one of its television crews…