Germany, National chapter

Journalists Matter, Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists

The Council of Europe encourages member states to transpose the Campaign to the national context. Without each member’s committed and effective effort at national level, through the development of the so-called ‘national chapter’, the Campaign cannot reach its goals.

In this section, we will present developments in Germany:

In 2025 Germany continued to prioritise the safety of journalists at both federal and Länder level. Existing cooperation mechanisms between police authorities, media organisations and public institutions remained active throughout 2025, with several Länder continuing round-table discussions and exchange formats aimed at identifying emerging challenges and strengthening protective measures for media professionals. Particular emphasis was placed on the prevention and prosecution of politically motivated offences against journalists, police training and awareness-raising, and the further development of protection concepts for journalists covering public events and demonstrations.

The nationwide code of conduct between police authorities and media representatives continued to provide an important framework for cooperation aimed at preventing both undue interference with police operations and restrictions on journalists’ ability to report freely, particularly during public assemblies and demonstrations.

In December 2025, the Federal Government adopted a draft law implementing the European Union Anti-SLAPP Directive. The proposed legislation aims to enable courts to dismiss manifestly unfounded or abusive claims more rapidly and to reduce the chilling effect of legal proceedings targeting public participation, journalism and freedom of expression. The draft law is currently under parliamentary consideration.

While implementation primarily falls within the remit of federal authorities, some Länder have already introduced practical support mechanisms. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a dedicated "No SLAPP" contact point is available to media professionals affected by strategic lawsuits against public participation.

Particular attention was also given to addressing online harassment, hate crime and gender-based violence. Several Länder continued to strengthen specialised reporting and support mechanisms for victims of online abuse, including accessible reporting channels, counselling services and police prevention programmes. Awareness-raising campaigns and training initiatives addressing gender-based violence and threats in the digital environment were further developed, while cooperation between police, judicial authorities, media representatives and civil society organisations remained a key component of prevention and protection efforts.

Efforts to engage young people also continued in several Länder through media literacy, violence-prevention and anti-extremism programmes implemented in cooperation with schools, universities and civil society organisations. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of hate crime, disinformation and online threats while promoting responsible media use and democratic participation.