The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the Council of the European Union’s position on the new AgoraEU programme, adopted on 12 May by EU Culture Ministers, as an important step towards recognising journalism, media freedom, and democratic participation as core pillars of Europe’s democratic resilience. The EFJ calls for this political momentum to be translated into the allocation of substantial financial resources to public-interest media. The proposed AgoraEU programme, which forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034), would bring together EU support for culture, media, and civil society under a single framework and includes, for the first time,…

EU Member States must show political leadership and join calls for the suspension of EU funds to Serbia to prevent the spiral of violence against journalists from escalating into deadly attacks, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and nine undersigned organisations said on Friday in a series of letters sent to a group of Ministers for European Affairs across Europe. The organisations highlight the shocking numbers of physical, legal and online attacks against journalists as recorded on international monitoring platforms since November 2024, a level of persistent violence against media that is rare in any EU member state or candidate country. Since the…

On this Europe Day, media organisations and journalists across the continent, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) come together to reaffirm their shared commitment to a strong, democratic, and united Europe. Europe is facing profound and complex challenges. At a time when anti-democratic forces are gaining ground globally, and disinformation threatens to erode trust within our societies, the role of independent, pluralistic media has never been more essential. Europe is more than a political or economic project. It is a shared promise – of peace, freedom, democracy, and human dignity. For millions of people, it remains the strongest guarantee…

The 7th of May 2026 marks the deadline for EU Member States to transpose the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, also known as Daphne’s law. As we mark this landmark, however, the European Anti-SLAPP Monitor shows a fragmented and uneven picture for transposition across Europe, as the deadline is being missed by nearly all Member States. While the Anti-SLAPP Directive marked a significant step forward in protecting journalists and media from abusive litigation, its implementation at the national level remains alarmingly incomplete. Although there are some positive examples, the majority of states are seriously lagging behind and others have made no progress at…

Since the contested parliamentary elections in October 2024, Georgia has experienced one of the most rapid and serious deteriorations of press freedom ever seen in an EU member state or candidate country, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners warn today. As we mark World Press Freedom Day 2026, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its partners once again draws attention to the plight of independent media and journalists in Georgia, where the Russia-friendly ruling party has continued its intensifying clampdown over the past year. Our thoughts today are particularly with jailed journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who has now been behind…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the letter sent today by 61 Members of the European Parliament calling on the European Union leadership to make stronger calls for foreign journalist access to Gaza. The letter, addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as well as EU member states, says that security can no longer be invoked by Israel as justification to deny access. It asks for access to be a key demand in bilateral relations with Israel and to use all possible…