The EU’s new return policy risks jeopardising the lives of vulnerable journalists and human rights defenders living in exile. As such, it undermines the very principles of press freedom and human rights it aims to uphold and the safe haven the EU seeks to provide for journalists from all over the world threatened for reporting on the truth. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the ECPMF and undersigning organisations to urge the EU to immediately reconsider these adverse effects and prioritise the protection of those who have already fled persecution. On 8 December 2025, the Council of the European…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in addressing the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, regarding the unlawful political pressure being exerted on the weekly Novosti, the only print media outlet for the Serb minority in Croatia. Recent alarming developments include a statement by MP Mlinarić from the ruling Homeland Movement coalition expressing the intention to abolish all budgetary funding for Novosti starting in 2026. This statement followed reports by Novi List that the president of the Homeland Movement, Ivan Penava, had allegedly pressured minority members of the Council for National…

Proposed legal amendments to the law governing Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT risk weakening its editorial independence and disrupting its sustainable financing, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the undersigned partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn today. Earlier this week, LRT journalists announced a protest scheduled for 9 December in front of the Parliament to oppose proposed changes to the Law on the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, which they say would “dismantle the safeguards that protect LRT’s independence.” The protest is organised in reaction to two amendments initiated by the governing Nemunas Dawn party, which…

As negotiations continue over a peace plan to end the Russian war on Ukraine, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) join the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and partner organisations in strongly opposing any proposals on granting amnesty for potential war crimes committed in the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, especially for those against journalists. Our organisations renew our demand that those responsible for the killing of at least 16 journalists, the serious injury of dozens more, as well as for other attacks on media infrastructure, are identified and held accountable…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in expressing, in an open letter to the European Commission, serious concerns regarding the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-level broadcaster, Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT). Our letter comes as BHRT staff today protest in front of Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise alarm about the dire financial situation and call for institutional support and immediate action that will end years of disrespecting the Law. For years, BHRT has been facing serious financial challenges due to a deep institutional crisis and debts primarily incurred by…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and Médiafórum in raising alarm about the recent acquisition of Hungary’s most-read tabloid newspaper by a pro-government media group and calls on the newly established European Board for Media Services to launch an assessment of the merger and its potentially negative impact on media pluralism in Hungary. Our organisations call on the European Board for Media Services (Media Board) – the independent EU advisory body established by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) – to initiate an advisory opinion on the takeover, which we…