Together with 10 press freedom organisations, the European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) today sent an open letter to EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, Roberta Metsola and Kaja Kallas, calling on the European Union to react to the critical press freedom situation in Georgia.   President of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Council António Costa President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas   Dear President Ursula von der Leyen, Dear President António Costa, Dear President Roberta…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe (CDT Europe) as well as twelve civil society organisations, many of which are members of the Spyware Coordination Group, in urging the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to prioritise action against spyware misuse. Poland will assume the rotating presidency in January 2025. This role, held by each EU member state for six months, allows the presiding country to set the Council’s agenda, chair meetings, and represent the Council in negotiations with other EU institutions. This makes the presidency a crucial opportunity to…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in strongly condemning the brutal attack on Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of the local media portal Komarilos.com. The consortium calls for the perpetrator to be held accountable without delay, in line with the Croatian Penal Code which prescribes higher penalties for attacks on journalists.  On 4 December 2024, journalist Dario Topić was physically attacked in Osijek while investigating the City of Osijek’s refusal to renew Elektromodul’s parking concession license after 26 years. Invited by the co-owner and director of Elektromodul,  Damir Taslidžić,…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists organisations in strongly condemning what appears to be a targeted, deliberate attack on journalists by state security forces during pro-EU protests triggered by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia would halt its EU membership negotiations until the end of 2028. Violence against journalists is unacceptable. Georgian authorities have an obligation to ensure a safe and enabling environment for members of the press. We call on Georgian authorities to immediately cease the ongoing assault on independent and critical media. We stand in full support…

The proposed “agent of influence” bill under consideration by the Turkish Parliament poses a serious threat to fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, press freedom, and the public’s right to information. With vague language and harsh penalties, the bill risks being weaponized to silence dissent, treating government critics as spies and further undermining judicial independence. As Turkey moves away from democratic standards, the EU must act decisively by urging the withdrawal of this legislation, prioritising freedom of expression, and supporting civil society. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is a signatory of the following letter. December 10, 2024 Dear President…

The Flemish Journalists’ Association (VVJ) board of directors is concerned about the new framework agreements at the European media group Mediahuis, which has included a provision to enable the use of journalistic work for AI purposes. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Belgium in denouncing a decision taken without consultation with the journalists and their representatives. In a letter to the publishers dated 28 November 2024, the VVJ denounced the following provisions of the agreement, which are detrimental to the rights of freelancers: Unclear provisions: The agreements do not specify which AI applications are concerned and…