On 1st of July, Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe made an address to the X West Ukrainian Legal Forum (1 - 2 July 2021) organised in Lviv. In his video message entitled “Freedom of Expression in the Post-Covid World: crisis or the chance for rethinking?” Mr. Penninckx reviewed the current major challenges to freedom of expression such as rising violence against journalists, proliferating information disorder, pandemic-related restrictions of access to information and new obstacles to quality journalism in the digital age. He further introduced the Council of Europe policy instruments to address these challenges, in particular the recently adopted Resolution on the impact of the health crisis on freedom of expression and the draft Recommendation to member States on promoting a favourable environment for quality journalism in the digital age. He also called Ukrainian authorities to fully ensure access to official information and documents, in conformity to the Tromsø Convention, which Ukraine ratified in 2020 and take due actions on alerts reported on the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.

• Address by Mr. Penninckx in English

• Address by Mr. Penninckx in English with Ukrainian subtitles