The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) together with partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) met with European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, on 27 April 2025, to address increasing challenges concerning the economic viability, online safety of journalists, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the media landscape. Stressing the link between security and media freedom, Vice-President Virkkunen acknowledged the critical role of journalism as part of the essential infrastructure for security and preparedness. Highlighting main points for media safety, the MFRR partners emphasised the need for ensuring sustainability for…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemned the decision to charge Joakim Medin with terrorism related actions in addition to the insult charges that were used to justify his initial arrest. Medin, whose first court hearing has been scheduled for 30 April, now faces up to twelve years imprisonment if convicted of both indictments. Since 19 March, over 13 journalists have been arrested and charged with different offences, with at least 12 journalists subjected to police violence. The situation has taken an unprecedented turn with Medin’s detention—marking a rare case where a foreign journalist has faced such charges. His treatment, mirroring…

Today to mark the fourth anniversary of the killing of Greek crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz in April 2021. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the undersigned international media freedom and journalist organisations in renewing the call for justice and for ending the ongoing impunity, which continues to cast a dark shadow over the Greek media and press freedom landscape. Karaivaz, a veteran reporter specialised in police and crime issues, was gunned down outside his home in Athens by two men on a moped on 9 April 2021, in what is widely suspected to have been a professional contract killing…

Read the statement in turkish The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in strongly condemning the arrest of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin on terrorism charges in Turkey and calling for his immediate release. This is the latest incident amidst the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in which dozens of journalists have been arrested and beaten. On 27 March 2025, Joakim Medin, a regular contributor to the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens ETC and member of the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF), was travelling to cover the widespread protests against the recent arrest…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) along with partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today raise further alarm about the deepening press freedom crisis in Serbia in the wake of revelations showing evidence of the abuse of advanced Pegasus spyware to target two journalists from leading investigative media platform BIRN. Our organisations warn that the ultimately failed attempt to use military-grade surveillance technology to spy on journalists from the award-winning Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) represents another milestone in the deteriorating situation in Serbia, which requires immediate and strong interventions from the European Union. The confirmation of…

The partner organisation of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will conduct a mission to Serbia between 7-9 April to meet with journalists, media stakeholders and law enforcement authorities amidst a rapidly worsening media freedom crisis. During the three-day visit, the delegation will travel to Belgrade and Novi Sad to meet with journalists, editors, media outlets, journalist associations and civil society groups to gather information about the serious spike in pressure on independent journalism and media freedom by state authorities and government officials. The mission has sought meetings with officials from the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Serbian Police, as…