The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today in expressing renewed concern over the undemocratic process by which the National Assembly conducted the latest election for the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), Serbia’s key media regulator. After a delay of more than one year, the National Assembly last week appointed eight members to the REM Council, including four candidates seen by media experts as independent. However, it failed to approve the ninth appointee representing the country’s national minorities after the ruling majority abstained, drawing criticism of obstruction…

On 13 November 2025, the European Commission adopted its European Democracy Shield, the first comprehensive, flagship strategy for strengthening democratic resilience within the bloc, with a key focus on free and independent media, fighting disinformation and creating healthier information ecosystems to protect European values and security. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in welcoming the Shield which offers, in the face of rising digital manipulation, shrinking civic space and collapsing media business models, an important opportunity to ensure safety of journalists and media viability – but only if turned into concrete…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in welcoming the publication of the 2025 EU Enlargement Package and highlights key media freedom developments and concerns that should shape negotiations with candidate countries moving forward. Our organisations welcome the sharpening of criticism of certain countries engaging in egregious media freedom violations by the Commission in this year’s report, particularly Serbia and Georgia, and stress that assessments for all countries must now translate into effective progress on media freedom, media pluralism and freedom of expression. The Enlargement Package recognises freedom of expression, media freedom, and…

On 7 November 2025, Croatian journalist Melita Vrsaljko, a contributor to Faktograf and Klimatski portal, was found guilty by the Municipal Court in Zadar, of disturbing public order after defending herself from a physical attack that occurred in July 2024 while she was reporting on illegal waste dumping. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Croatia — SNH and HND — and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in condemning this ruling, which sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom and Croatian journalists. The attack dated back to 15 July 2024, when Melita Vrsaljko was assaulted in the village…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing, in a letter to the Agenzia Nova, our serious concern over the recent dismissal of its journalist Gabriele Nunziati, which we consider a violation of media freedom and of the journalistic profession. Gabriele Nunziati was dismissed for asking a question deemed “inappropriate” to a representative of a political body. In the letter, which was sent on 10 November, we call for the journalist’s immediate reinstatement.

To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) honours the memory of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of truth and demands justice for the crimes committed against them. The killing of a journalist is an attack on freedom of expression, an assault on the public’s right to know and a fundamental threat to democracy. Tragically, this past year alone has seen a disturbing pattern of violence and inaction, with four killings of journalists in Europe in October alone: three in Ukraine and one…