An explosive device containing five kilos of TNT was discovered and defused on Thursday afternoon by Greek police outside the home of journalist Yannis Pretenteris in the Athens region. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Greek affiliates, including the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), in calling for the identification and arrest of the perpetrators of this attempted terrorist attack. An explosive device consisting of five kilos of ammonium-based TNT and a detonator was discovered and defused on Thursday afternoon by a Greek police munitions disposal unit outside the home of Yannis Pretenteris, editor of the weekly…

On 8 July, the European Commission published its 6th Rule of Law (RoL) report, assessing countries’ advancements and progress in four key areas, one of which is media freedom. The same four candidate countries as in 2024 – Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro – are included alongside the 27 EU Member States. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) deplores the fact that the report does not reflect the decline in human rights and press freedom observed in several of the countries monitored, starting with Serbia. The RoL Report is the result of multiple stakeholder consultations (including with the EFJ…

On 2 July, the Dáil passed the Defamation (Amendment) Bill by 83 votes to 61. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) shares the disappointment of the undersigned organisations that, although the Bill contains anti-SLAPP provisions, it does not include the strong safeguards necessary to meaningfully protect public interest speech. Nearly a decade after the review of the Defamation Act 2009 began, this is a frustrating outcome and a missed opportunity to protect the freedom of expression that is the lifeblood of our democracy. The Ireland Anti-SLAPP Network – a coalition of civil society organisations, media lawyers, and academics – has engaged…

“This is a totalitarian regime in the making. May our grandchildren forgive us…”. It was in these dramatic terms that some MEPs spoke out yesterday at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). This act, which is due to come into force on 8 August, is supposed to guarantee the independence of the media, the protection of journalists and the transparency of media ownership in the European Union. However, the debate showed just how deeply divided and opposed the positions are, from those who consider the EMFA absolutely essential to those who see…

The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) strongly condemn the arrests of cartoonists and media workers of the satirical magazine LeMan on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and enmity” and call for the charges to be dropped.  On 2 July 2025, Turkish authorities arrested four staff members of satirical magazine LeMan on charges of “inciting the public hatred and enmity” over a controversial cartoon, published in the 26 June issue, that officials claim depicts the Prophet Muhammad. Cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan, editorial manager Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, and manager Ali Yavuz are in custody pending trial.…

Following recent legal developments against journalists reporting on information deemed of public interest but classified under bank secrecy, the European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their Swiss affiliates, impressum and syndicom, in calling for urgent reform of Article 47 of the Swiss Banking Act to include strong public interest protections for journalists and whistleblowers. Article 47 poses a significant threat to watchdog journalism by criminalising the disclosure of confidential banking information without any public interest exception. Journalists who publish leaked information regarding money laundering, tax evasion, and other financial crimes face severe penalties, including up to five years…