Last Wednesday, the European Parliament hosted the ceremony for the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism. The award honours the memory of the assassinated Maltese journalist by celebrating outstanding professionals in the field and highlighting the crucial role independent journalism plays in protecting democracy. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, reflected on Daphne’s impact: “Those who tried to silence her failed, as her stories now travel further than ever.” She also congratulated the winners and pledged that the Parliament would continue to support their cause through concrete action: “Now that the Anti-SLAPP rules we fought for are in force,…

Whilst long queues formed at polling stations across Serbia on Sunday, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Serbian affiliates began to report the first incidents targeting journalists covering the parliamentary elections. The EFJ calls on the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists on the ground. Long lines snaked from polling stations across the country. Even populist leader Aleksandar Vucić waited in line for nearly two hours to vote. First indications of results are expected around ​two hours after polls close at 8 p.m. Whilst voting was still under way, the EFJ and its affiliates reported several incidents targeting…

Thousands of journalists demonstrated this Saturday in 10 provinces across Turkey to protest against censorship of the media and to call for the release of imprisoned reporters. Below we publish the report and analysis by Yusuf Kanli, vice-president of GCD, one of the EFJ’s affiliates in Turkey. This article was published on Sunday by Politis. Journalists marched in cities across Turkey on Saturday against arrests, censorship, access restrictions and state-appointed control of media outlets. Supported by opposition leader Özgür Özel and representatives of nearly the entire opposition spectrum, the coordinated protests appeared to be the largest street mobilization by Turkish…

UPDATE 24/10/2026: In a rushed overnight vote, on Saturday, the populist government of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, backed by the far-right SPD party, pushed ​public media funding changes through a first parliamentary hurdle despite criticism that they ‌could weaken broadcaster independence. The EFJ calls on the European Commission to take immediate action against this flagrant breach of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). —————————— The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), its Czech affiliate, the Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic (SNCR), and the undersigned media and journalists’ organisations are deeply concerned by the decision to fast-track legislation in…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its member, the Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic (SNCR) instrongly opposing the ruling coalition’s move to rush through a bill that severely threatens the independence of Czech public service media. Today, 23 October 2026, the ruling coalition in the Czech Republic,voted to fast-track the government’s bill to abolish the television and licence fee. This means the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the parliament, will give priority to debate this bill. This proposal came from Radim Fiala, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) parliamentary group. At his request,…

From 4 to 6 November, a coalition of international media freedom and journalist organisations will travel to Hungary to learn about the ongoing media reform under the Tisza government and provide expert recommendations for rebuilding press freedom after years of backsliding. The three-day fact-finding mission to Budapest is led by partners of the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). The delegation of 13 organisations will meet editors, journalists, media organisations, and civil society groups, as well as with the new Hungarian government, relevant ministries, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders responsible…