On 22-23 November 2018, in Podgorica, Montenegro, the Regional Platform for advocating media freedom and journalists’ safety has organised a closing conference. The Regional Platform is a network of journalist associations and media trade unions in Western Balkans countries established in January 2016 with the financial assistance of the European Union and within the EU Support to Regional Thematic Networks of Civil Society Organisations Program.

During the international conference that gathered around 100 participants project results were presented, current situation and possible follow up actions discussed in order to support the creation of a favorable legal and social environment for media pluralism by empowering journalists’ associations and media trade unions to become an efficient, responsible and independent actor in advocating media freedoms and EU standards, as well as rights of citizens to information and to variety of information from different sources.

The Council of Europe expert, Ms Lejla Dervisagic took part in the conference and during the session on State of journalists’ safety in the Western Balkans presented the Council of Europe standards in this field. She pointed out that prevention, protection, efficient  investigation of all violation of rights of media actors are key recommendation of the Council of Europe to the member states for strengthening the safety of journalists.