The “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in Ukraine – Phase II” (SFEM-UA – Phase II) Project is a continuation of a four-year initiative under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine titled “Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026 (Action Plan). The Project is implemented in 2025-2026 with a budget of 885.000 Euro.

It aims to address the pressing needs of key stakeholders in the field of freedom of expression and media in Ukraine amidst ongoing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in the post-war period. In particular, it supports the enhancement of the Council of Europe, European standards and media legislation towards Ukraine’s EU accession process and its integration into the European Union’s information space.

The primary focus of Phase II is to continue strengthening laws and regulations that safeguard freedom of expression and to ensure their effective implementation. It also focuses on promoting media independence and pluralism by implementing measures to ensure the safety and security of journalists, encouraging a diverse and independent media landscape and improving the media environment by increasing media literacy and resilience to disinformation.

Through these targeted activities, the SFEM-UA – Phase II aims to foster a resilient, independent, and pluralistic media environment essential for the democratic development of Ukraine and its integration into the European Union’s information space.

The SFEM-UA – Phase II includes two main components:

• Component 1: Further alignment and effective implementation of Ukraine’s framework on media, freedom of expression and freedom of access to information with the Council of Europe and European standards.
• Component 2. Strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian media, media actors to ensure their independence, professionalism, and sustainability during the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and a post-war period.

Project partners:

• the Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy
• the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech
• the Joint Stock Company “Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine” (JSC “UA:PBC”)
• the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine (media regulator)
• the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine
• media associations, CSOs and professional unions
• journalists and media
• national professional training institutions of legal professionals (for judges, prosecutors, advocates, law-enforcement).