News
World Press Freedom Day
2024 election year: Secretary General urges governments to protect journalists to safeguard democracy
In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić said: “As millions of citizens in Europe and other continents vote in crucial elections in 2024, we must recall the critical role that journalists and quality media play in...
Media Literacy and Media Self-Regulation to Strengthen Democracy in Ukraine: International Conference
How to improve media literacy and media self-regulation, why is it important, and what is the current good practice? These and other issues were discussed at the International Conference on Media Literacy and Media Self-Regulation, which gathered over 140 participants representing Ukrainian state...
The Council of Europe addresses SLAPPs at an International Conference in Poland
On the 25th and 26th of April the Council of Europe is set to address the pressing issue of SLAPPs at international conference hosted in Warsaw, organised by Agora, ARTICLE 19 Europe, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Prague Civil Society Center, and Watchdog Poland. The conference aims to...
First meeting of Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Freedom of Expression (MSI-AI) held in Strasbourg
The Committee of Experts on the Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Freedom of Expression (MSI-AI) held its first meeting, in hybrid format, on 23-24 April 2024. The Committee is composed of member States’ representatives, elected by the Steering Committee on Media and...
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Safety of Journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Preparation of the Pilot Report
Are journalists truly safe and adequately protected in Bosnia and Herzegovina? This question extends beyond the concerns of media professionals; it resonates as a societal issue affecting us all. Bringing together representatives from pivotal beneficiary and partner institutions across the state,...
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Enabling proactive transparency and access to information in North Macedonia
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. – paragraph 1, Article 10 of the European Convention for Human Rights. Towards...
Promoting the Access to Information: Insights from Euro-Mediterranean Regional Exchange
In an effort to strengthen transparent governance and safeguard the right of access to information, the Council of Europe's Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression organised in partnership with the CDAI Morocco's Commission for the Right of Access to Information a regional conference on...
Empowering Bosnia and Herzegovina's judiciary: enhancing freedom of expression through training of trainers
Strengthening the capacities of local legal professionals to serve as educators in the realm of freedom of expression, in accordance with the standards outlined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), is a...
Council of Europe Action Contributes to the Progress on Safety of Journalists in North Macedonia
Free, independent, plural and diverse media are fundamental to democracy. Journalists and media professionals must enjoy full legal protection, as stated in the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The “Journalists Matter” campaign and the...
Steering towards freedom of expression in line with European standards
Underscoring the commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression and media in North Macedonia, the second Steering Committee Meeting under the joint EU and Council of Europe action on "Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in North Macedonia" (PRO-FREX) that convened today in...
Montenegro: New Communication Strategy to increase the level of trust in courts
The Communication strategy of the Judicial Council and Courts of Montenegro for 2024 - 2026 and the 2024 Action Plan were presented to court presidents, press judges and the Judicial Council's members. The Strategy defines ways of communicating with public and media, contributing to greater...
Committee of Experts on online safety and empowerment of content creators and users held its first meeting
The Committee of Experts online safety and empowerment of content creators and users (MSI-eSEC) held its first meeting (hybrid) on 9-10 April 2024. The Committee is composed of member States’ representatives, elected by the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), and...
Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists: Ukraine launches the National Chapter
On 9 April 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, in co-operation with the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine and the Council of Europe, launched the National Chapter of the Council of Europe "Journalists Matter" Campaign for the Safety of...
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Steering Committee Approves a Plan for the Freedom of Expression Action in Montenegro
A comprehensive Activity Plan for 2024 was approved today by the Steering Committee of the Project “Protection of the Freedom of Expression and of the Media in Montenegro PRO-FREX-M”. It was agreed that the project will focus on providing support in the following areas: Preparation of the new...
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Strengthening the Protection of Journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are often used by the political and economic power holders as means of pressuring journalists. The anti-SLAPP Recommendation of the Council of Europe Rec CM (2024)2 was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 5 April 2024. This and other...
Council of Europe adopts Recommendation on countering the use of SLAPPs
On 5 April 2024, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Alarmed by the chilling effect that SLAPPs have on freedom of expression and public participation, the...
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Transparency of media ownership in Moldova enhanced
In its efforts to improve the transparency of media ownership and media registries, with the support of the Council of Europe, the Audiovisual Council of Moldova launches a new, restructured, and improved version of the Media Service Providers and Distributors Registry (online platform) to allow...
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Empowering Legal Professionals from North Macedonia to safeguard journalists and freedom of expression
To uphold the principles of freedom of expression and protection of journalists, a capacity-building initiative was organised in Gevgelija gathering legal professionals from various backgrounds including judges, prosecutors, and lawyers. They worked together during the three-day training course...
Journalists Matter Campaign introduced to the project launch promoting freedom of expression in Georgia
The Journalists Matter Campaign for the Safety of Journalists was presented during the launch of the new cooperation project “Supporting Freedom of Expression and Media in Georgia (SFEM-GE)”,in Tbilisi on 26 March. The launch event of the two-year project addresses the freedom of expression needs...
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Council of Europe launches new media project in Georgia
New cooperation project “Supporting Freedom of Expression and Media in Georgia (SFEM-GE)” was launched in Tbilisi, on 26 March. The project will be implemented over the period of 2024-2025. The two-year project addresses the freedom of expression related cooperation needs, outlined in the Council...
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights