The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in Ukraine – Phase II” (SFEM-UA – Phase II) 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 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.

This component aims to enable relevant authorities to address and enhance the alignment of Ukraine’s media, freedom of expression, and freedom of access to information legislation and regulations with the Council of Europe standards and the European Union legal framework.

The intervention under this component includes technical, legal and policy advice, tools and methodology development as well as institutional support and capacity-building inputs.

The Project will support through the strengthened capacity of relevant institutions, an effective implementation of the legal framework governing the safety and protection of journalists, media regulatory authority and access to information in line with Council of Europe and European standards. The assistance for the National TV and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine will be focused on building regulatory capacities and adopting necessary policies, particularly those applicable in wartime, in line with Council of Europe standards and EU regulatory trends. The Project will provide guidance on developing strategic documents and tools, aligning institutional and regulatory frameworks with new media legislation

The awareness of the safety of journalists, especially in times of war, will continue to be raised, and dialogue between prosecutors, judges, investigators, police and media representatives will be facilitated, including on the documentation of war crimes, the release of journalists illegally imprisoned in Russia, and other crimes committed against journalists. This component will also contribute to the implementation of the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” Campaign in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.

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.

Under this component, capacity-building support will be provided to media professionals, with a particular emphasis on developing new skills and competencies in media management, including monetisation strategies, as well as content production. Local and hyperlocal media will receive technical and expert assistance to help them operate effectively during wartime.

Additionally, targeted support will be offered to Ukrainian journalists and media civil society organisations (CSOs) to counter Russian propaganda and advance media literacy initiatives. Expert and technical assistance will also continue for the internal management and regulatory structures of the Joint Stock Company “Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine” (JSC "UA:PBC") to safeguard its independence, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability.

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)

 LEGAL OPINION on certain provisions (related to freedom of expression, media and access to information) of the Draft Law on Civil Code of Ukraine (registration no. 15150)

 Recommendation CM/Rec(2026)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls

 LEGAL OPINION  on Legislative Changes on the Protection of Public Participation from manifestly unfolded claims or abuse of judicial proceedings in Ukraine

 LEGAL OPINION on the Draft Law of Ukraine №12320 (Law No. 4547-IX of July 16, 2025) "On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine to Ensure Compliance with the Guarantees of Advocacy"

 LEGAL OPINION on the Draft Law of Ukraine №8310 "On Amendments to the Electoral Code of Ukraine regarding the improvement of the regulation of information provision for elections and the conduct of pre-election agitation”

  TECHNICAL PAPER Defining the Journalist: International Standards

  Preliminary Legislative and Policy Proposals for implementation of Council of Europe and EU standards to counter SLAPPs in Ukraine

 LEGAL OPINION on the alignment with European standards of the Draft Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Amendments to the  Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No 1039 dated 28 December 2016 and the Order of the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine No 18 dated 16 January 2017”

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine ‘On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine Regarding the Establishment of Criminal Liability for Unauthorised Interference, Sale, or Distribution of Information Processed in Public Electronic Registers and Strengthening Criminal Liability During Martial Law for Criminal Offenses in the Sphere of Using Information and Communication Systems’ (registered No.10242)

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws on Media Activity” (Register No. 12111)

 Legal Opinion on the Draft Law of Ukraine №11321 (Law No. 4212-IX of 14 January 2025) "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Strengthening Certain Guarantees for the Activities of Media and Journalists and Ensuring the Right of Citizens to Access Information"

 LEGAL OPINION on the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amending the Law of Ukraine “On Advertising” and Other Laws of Ukraine

 Legal Opinion on the additional amendments to Draft Law No. 12111 of Ukraine

 Assessment of the position of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) on Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Media Activities (Registration No. 12111)

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Citizens’ Rights to Reliable Information and Ensuring Information Security, Carried Out by the National Regulator”

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Information-Sharing Platforms through which Mass Information is Disseminated”

 Legal Review of Draft Legal Amendments on the Status and Principles of Activities of Parliamentary Broadcasting