Promoting freedom of expression and information and freedom of the media in South-East Europe 09.2013-08.2015
Between September 2013 and August 2015, the Council of Europe implemented a project aimed at developing legal and institutional guarantees for freedom of expression, higher quality journalism, and a pluralistic media landscape in line with Council of Europe standards in South-East Europe (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia).
The project was financed by a voluntary contribution of Norway, and some if its major achievements are:
- Reform of the media related legal framework in line with international and Council of Europe set of standards;
- Creation of a regional network of self-regulatory bodies called Media NEThics;
- Establishment of an informal network of representatives of regulatory authorities for protection of minors;
- 450 participants taking part in 14 regional activities, and thousands of participants taking part to 77 national activities;
- Set-up of a Press Council in Albania and many other national achievements, including Online school of Media Ethics, Summer School, Academic course and Lectures at the University, and Trainings of judges, lawyers, employees of regulatory authorities and journalists, etc.;
- Increased independence and effective functioning of the regulatory bodies competent for audio-visual communications.
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights