A group of journalists from Albanian and Serbian communities in Kosovo* took part in a study visit to the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg from 19 to 20 May 2025, aimed at strengthening their understanding of the Organisation's mandate, structure, and key areas of work in the field of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Throughout the two-day programme, the journalists engaged with representatives from a wide range of Council of Europe institutions, including those involved in political dialogue, legal expertise, standard-setting, monitoring, and cooperation activities. The sessions covered key areas such as media freedom, minority rights, anti-discrimination, democratic governance, and the rule of law.

This activity was jointly organised by the Council of Europe’s Policy Planning and Confidence Building Measures Division and the EU/CoE joint action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media (PROFREX)”, in cooperation with the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK).

The visit contributed to the objectives of the Confidence Building Measures programme by fostering exchange and dialogue among professionals from different communities, while also advancing the objectives of the EU/CoE joint action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media (PROFREX)” by promoting awareness of European media standards and strengthening professional engagement. As a result, participants left the visit with an improved understanding of the Council of Europe’s work and greater familiarity with its tools for safeguarding media freedom and human rights.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.