On October 11, Slovenians will vote on a referendum on whether to abolish the licence fee that funds their public broadcaster. In addition, a draft law is moving forward that would give the government decisive influence over the body responsible for appointing the broadcaster’s management. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in warning that both proposals risk breaching the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), and in calling on parliament to pause the legislative process. Ahead of a consultative referendum on abolishing the mandatory contribution that finances RTV Slovenija (RTV…

Between January and August 2026, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) documented 28 verified drone-related incidents affecting journalists, media workers, newsrooms and media infrastructure in Ukraine. At least five media workers and newsroom staff were physically injured. New incidents followed in September. In Sloviansk, a fiber-optic FPV drone destroyed a vehicle used by Spanish photojournalist Diego Herrera and Swedish journalist and writer Mustafa Can, only minutes after they had stepped out of it, on 24 September. Their professional and protective equipment was also destroyed. On 28 September, Radio Liberty video correspondent Marian Kushnir survived a drone attack in…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and leading media freedom organisations in calling for a strong and effective anti-SLAPP framework in Albania. In a joint open letter (see below) addressed to the Albanian minister of Justice Toni Gogu, the signatories welcome the draft anti-SLAPP legislative package and its important safeguards, while recommending targeted improvements to strengthen early dismissal, protection against abusive proceedings, implementation mechanisms, and safeguards for public-interest participation. The letter also calls for addressing the continued criminalisation of defamation and insult and for a…

Access-blocking orders are increasingly being used in Türkiye as a tool to restrict freedom of expression and press freedom. In recent weeks, not only news websites but also the social media accounts of journalists, media organisations, professional associations and civil society organisations have been blocked from being accessed in Türkiye. In response to these restrictions, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) are making the following clear and public call to X and its management: X must not block access to the accounts of journalists and media organisations in…

Although France enjoys a legal and regulatory framework which is generally supportive of media freedom, challenges are mounting ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) concluded with its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in a new report published today.  The report follows an international press freedom mission to Paris in June, which was led by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and joined by partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). The mission was also joined by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), EFJ French affiliates (SNJ, SNJ-CGT, CFDT Journalistes and FASAP-FO),…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) stands with its Slovenian affiliates, the Trade Union of Slovenian Journalists (SNS) and the Slovenian Association of Journalists (DNS), in their defense of independent, sustainable and predictable funding for the public service media RTV Slovenija. On 11 October 2026, Slovenian citizens will vote in a consultative referendum on the proposed abolition of the mandatory RTV contribution that finances RTV Slovenija. The referendum question reads: “Are you in favour of abolishing the mandatory payment of the contribution for Radiotelevizija Slovenija programmes?” The referendum proposal was initiated by the parliamentary groups of SDS, NSi, SLS, Fokus,…