The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) project, joins its Albanian affiliate, the Association of Journalists of Albania (AGSH), in raising concerns over the new internal Regulation of the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) which introduces significant restrictions on journalists’ access to and reporting from court proceedings. The regulation which deviates clearly from the 2023 High Judicial Council Guidelines on relations between courts, the public and the media was secretly adopted without any prior consultation. We call on the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime to immediately postpone…

The Greek parliament adopted on 31 July 2026 a bill introducing formal legal safeguards against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPS). The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their Greek affiliates, in welcoming “a significant step forward for press freedom.” Following key interventions by EFJ-IFJ affiliate, the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), during both the public consultation and the parliamentary committee process, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Bougas, accepted and incorporated, through an amendment, a provision allowing courts to examine – on the basis of the principle of equality before the law – whether a…

On 31 July, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs prevented Zdislava Pokorná, a journalist working for the independent daily newspaper Deník N, from attending a press conference. The ministry claimed that the conference was not intended for “alternative” or “conspiracy” media. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their affiliate, the Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic (SNCR), in condemning this discriminatory action by the government, which hinders journalistic work and contributes to a broader climate of distrust and hostility towards the media. Zdislava Pokorná, a journalist working for the independent daily newspaper Deník N, was denied accreditation to attend a…

On 29 July, the Moscow City Court sentenced Russian journalist Darya Shipacheva to 12 years in prison on charges of “treason”. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) strongly condemn the imprisonment of Shipacheva and the ongoing criminalisation of journalists amid a crackdown on press freedom in Russia. Darya Shipacheva, 35 years old, is a freelance science and medical journalist who has previously worked for publications such as Forbes Russia and RBC. On 23 April 2025, she was arrested at her Moscow apartment. According to her acquaintances, prior to her arrest she had received online threats from the ultra-nationalist and misogynistic Male State movement due to her…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the 10 co-signatories of this appeal in condemning the escalation of brutal repression against journalists and civil society in Albania. The joint statement calls on the international community to step up pressure on the Albanian authorities. We, the undersigned organisations, express serious concern about the deterioration of media freedom, civic space and democratic debate in Albania during the ongoing civic mobilisation known as the Flamingo Revolution. Over the past two months, journalists have faced obstruction, attacks and police interference while reporting. The use of crowd-control measures, including water cannon and tear gas, has…

On 21 July, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against the online media outlet elDiario.es, its director and four of its journalists. The lawsuit concerns elDiario.es reporting on allegations of sexual assault by Iglesias against two former employees. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) and their affiliates in the Spanish State ーFAPE, FeSP, FSC-CCOO, FeSMC-UGT and ELAー stand in solidarity with elDiario.es and its media professionals, and reiterate that using criminal lawsuits to intimidate journalists and obstruct their reporting is an attack on journalism and the public’s right to know. On 13 January, a three-year…