Freedom of Expression : News
Strasbourg, 27 October 2026
Journalists Matter side event to spotlight the role of local authorities in supporting safer and stronger journalism
The Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter - Campaign for the Safety of Journalists will hold a side event on 27 October 2026, in the margins of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, under the title “Local Authorities and Media for Stronger Democracy”. Taking...
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Council of Europe contributes to discussions on media trust and online safety at EPRA’s 64th meeting
The Council of Europe, represented by its Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Division and the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, participated as an observer in the 64th meeting of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA), held in Dublin from 14 to 16 October 2026 and...
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Council of Europe facilitates cross-sectoral institutional dialogue on the implementation of EU Digital Services Act
The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), brought together key Serbian institutions, regulators, media representatives and international partners for a roundtable on the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), marking an important step...
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Lawyers explore stronger legal protection for journalists and ways to counter SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Twenty-six lawyers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina explored practical ways to strengthen the legal protection of journalists and challenge abusive lawsuits targeting public participation during a two-day training in Neum on 15-16 October 2026. The exchange focused onapplying European human...
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Strengthening the Protection of Judges’ Freedom of Expression in Serbia
How can judges exercise their rights to freedom of expression while safeguarding judicial independence, impartiality and public confidence in the judiciary? This question was at the heart of a panel discussion held on 15 October in Belgrade, as part of the sixth judicial conference “Forum Days”...
(Seulement en anglais)
Monaco events highlight youth, disinformation and the role of journalists
The Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter – Campaign for the Safety of Journalists was at the centre of a series of events held in Monaco on 8 October, bringing together public authorities, journalists, young people, experts and the wider public for discussions on disinformation, media literacy...
Experts discuss national progresses in implementing standards on defamation and SLAPPs
On Monday 5 October 2026, in the premises of the Council of Europe in Paris, the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Secretariat organised an Experts Consultation Workshop on defamation and SLAPPs. Participants discussed two documents under preparation for the Council of Europe Steering Committee on...
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Building a stronger judicial response to SLAPPs in North Macedonia
Judges and public prosecutors in North Macedonia are taking concrete steps forward towards a more efficient response to Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) . During the specialised capacity-building session held in Shtip, they strengthened their knowledge and practical skills...
Council of Europe Consults Experts on the Development of a Practical Guide on Independent, Sustainable and Pluralistic Public Service Media
The Council of Europe held an online expert consultation on 29 September 2026 to support the development of a Practical Guide on Building Independent, Sustainable and Pluralistic Public Service Media, under the authority of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI). Bringing...
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Judges discuss stronger protection for journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina
How should courts respond when journalists face violence, threats or legal pressure because of their work? This was at the centre of discussions among judges from across Bosnia and Herzegovina at a Council of Europe workshop focused on judicial protection of journalists and media freedom. The...
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National dialogue advances the protection and safety of journalists in North Macedonia
A free press depends on the safety of those who work within it. In North Macedonia, concrete steps are taken to strengthen the safety of journalists. Representatives of public institutions, the judiciary, prosecution, media and journalists’ organisations, civil society and other relevant...
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New research brings evidence into Serbia’s media literacy efforts
The Council of Europe and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) jointly presented the findings of comprehensive research on the needs, habits and preferences of media users in Serbia to the Permanent Expert Working Group on Media Literacy, consisted of representatives from public...
MSI-eREG advances work on guidance for media regulators at second meeting in Luxembourg
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Media Regulators in a Platform-Based Environment (MSI-eREG) held its second meeting on 14–15 September 2026, hosted by the Luxembourg authorities. The meeting took place at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance of the University of Luxembourg....
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Assisting local actors in North Macedonia to advance access to public information in line with European standards and practice
Representatives of public institutions in North Macedonia strengthened their knowledge and practical skills on access to public information, during a specialised capacity-building activity organised in Skopje. within the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility...
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New Media Law Manual gives Ukrainian journalists practical tools to protect their rights
A new, revised and supplemented edition of the Media Law manual was presented at the Mohyla School of Journalism in Kyiv, providing journalism students and media professionals with an up-to-date practical guide to the legal framework governing journalism in Ukraine. The manual is the second...
Experts advance work on media pluralism in the digital age
The Committee of Experts on Safeguarding Media Pluralism in the Online Environment (MSI-ePLU) met in Strasbourg on 8–9 September to advance the drafting of a future recommendation to guide member states in addressing the impact of digital transformation on media pluralism. The meeting, chaired by...
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Supporting Independent and Public Service Media in Ukraine
The advocacy conference “The Right to Truth: New European Regulations and Multidimensional Threats During Wartime” in Kyiv, on 2 September, began in a shelter during the sixth air-raid alert of the day. Despite the security challenges, participants discussed how Ukraine can continue to strengthen...
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Strengthening Professional Media Coverage of Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strengthening professional, accurate and balanced media elections reporting was the focus of a training for journalists and media professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants had the opportunity to learn about European standards for professional election reporting and how these standards...
Council of Europe contributes to discussions on the future of Public Service Media
On 3 September 2026, the Council of Europe participated in the international conference Public Service Media in the Platform Era – Towards Public Digital Infrastructures that took place at the British Academy in London. The event brought together public service media organisations, regulators,...
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Strengthening Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Serbia
Professional staff of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection in Serbia strengthened their knowledge and practical understanding of European standards on access to information and environmental protection during a specialised capacity-building activity...
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