The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has just sent a strong signal to European policy makers. Yesterday, in their first ever ruling on the working conditions of journalists in Europe, the three components of the EESC – trade unions, employers and civil society – have joined forces to demand concrete measures against the worrying precariousness of journalists, which poses a serious threat to democracy. The report, adopted on Wednesday by a very large majority in plenary, calls on the European Commission and Member State governments to take concrete measures to support the profession. Although initiated by the trade union…

Proposed legal amendments to the law governing Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT risk weakening its editorial independence and disrupting its sustainable financing, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the undersigned partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn today. Earlier this week, LRT journalists announced a protest scheduled for 9 December in front of the Parliament to oppose proposed changes to the Law on the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, which they say would “dismantle the safeguards that protect LRT’s independence.” The protest is organised in reaction to two amendments initiated by the governing Nemunas Dawn party, which…

As negotiations continue over a peace plan to end the Russian war on Ukraine, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) join the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and partner organisations in strongly opposing any proposals on granting amnesty for potential war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, especially for those against journalists. Our organisations renew our demand that those responsible for the killing of at least 16 journalists, the serious injury of dozens more, as well as for other attacks on media infrastructure, are identified and held accountable…

The President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Maja Sever, on behalf of the 300,000 journalists represented by the EFJ in 44 European countries, expressed her full solidarity with the Italian journalists on strike on Thursday 28 November to demand the renewal of their national collective agreement. “Everywhere in Europe, journalists are faced with increasingly precarious working conditions, which prevent them from fully fulfilling their mission of providing information to the public,” insists Maja Sever. “There can be no real public interest journalism without decent working conditions for journalists. This is why the general strike is a powerful act,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in expressing, in an open letter to the European Commission, serious concerns regarding the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-level broadcaster, Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT). Our letter comes as BHRT staff today protest in front of Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise alarm about the dire financial situation and call for institutional support and immediate action that will end years of disrespecting the Law. For years, BHRT has been facing serious financial challenges due to a deep institutional crisis and debts primarily incurred by…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Swiss affiliates impressum and syndicom in denouncing the dramatic consequences of the restructuring plan announced on Monday by the Swiss public broadcaster SBC, which foresees the loss of 900 jobs. The EFJ calls on the public authorities and all Swiss civil society organisations to counter the “Halbierungsinitiative” initiative, launched by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP-UDC), which risks worsening the state of media pluralism in Switzerland by imposing a new wave of drastic restructuring on SBC. On 24 November, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) announced it will cut 900 of its 5,700 full-time…

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is releasing a new report “Ending the Silence on Online Harassment of Journalists”. Authored by journalist and tech policy advisor Elodie Vialle, the report provides an overview of the widespread phenomenon that is online harassment targeting journalists, whose normalisation makes it harder to address. It documents trends, identifies key challenges, highlights good practices, and offers actionable recommendations for all actors – journalists’ unions and associations, newsrooms, social partners, policy makers, as well as online platforms – to take action to…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and Médiafórum in raising alarm about the recent acquisition of Hungary’s most-read tabloid newspaper by a pro-government media group and calls on the newly established European Board for Media Services to launch an assessment of the merger and its potentially negative impact on media pluralism in Hungary. Our organisations call on the European Board for Media Services (Media Board) – the independent EU advisory body established by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) – to initiate an advisory opinion on the takeover, which we…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today in expressing renewed concern over the undemocratic process by which the National Assembly conducted the latest election for the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), Serbia’s key media regulator. After a delay of more than one year, the National Assembly last week appointed eight members to the REM Council, including four candidates seen by media experts as independent. However, it failed to approve the ninth appointee representing the country’s national minorities after the ruling majority abstained, drawing criticism of obstruction…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today strongly condemns the appeal court verdict upholding the two-year prison sentence handed down to Sakharov Prize Laureate Mzia Amaglobeli. As the defense will appeal this verdict to the Supreme Court, the EFJ continues to demand its overturn and Mzia Amaglobeli’s immediate release. The Supreme Court will have six months to review the case and issue a final decision. On 18 November, the Kutaisi Court of Appeal upheld the Batumi City Court’s original ruling sentencing journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to two years in prison. The defense team sought a full acquittal, while prosecutors requested that Mzia’s…

On 13 November 2025, the European Commission adopted its European Democracy Shield, the first comprehensive, flagship strategy for strengthening democratic resilience within the bloc, with a key focus on free and independent media, fighting disinformation and creating healthier information ecosystems to protect European values and security. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in welcoming the Shield which offers, in the face of rising digital manipulation, shrinking civic space and collapsing media business models, an important opportunity to ensure safety of journalists and media viability – but only if turned into concrete…

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…