World Day Against Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists: The European Union renews its commitment to press freedom and the protection of reporters.

World Day Against Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists: The European Union renews its commitment to press freedom and the protection of reporters.

Brussels – “A free press is the heart of democracy.” With these words, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Internal Market and Media John McGrath they opened their Joint statement on the occasion of the World Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, celebrated every year on November 2.

A clear and powerful message, arriving at a time when journalism is once again under attack, in Europe and around the world. Killings, attacks, intimidation, smear campaigns, digital threats, and illegal surveillance continue to target those who exercise their right—and duty—to inform.

"Our societies need journalists who shine a light on injustices and hold those in power accountable. Yet, around the world, too many continue to be killed, tortured, detained, or forced into exile," the three European representatives emphasized in their joint remarks.

A dramatic toll: the truth that costs lives

According to the latest press release from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 2025 is confirmed as one of the deadliest years for the world pressDozens of reporters have been murdered in war zones, but also in nominally peaceful countries, for exposing corruption, violence, environmental crimes, or abuses of power.

Many others have been imprisoned or attacked while carrying out their work. Hundreds of journalists, especially women and freelancers, live under constant threat, victims of online intimidation campaigns, digital surveillance and instrumental judicial persecution.

The European declaration strongly recalls the principles of international humanitarian law, according to which journalists must be considered civilians e protected in all circumstances. Every attack against them, the Commissioners recall, “must be subject to prompt, independent and effective investigations, and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions”.

The European Union's global commitment to journalists at risk

The European Union has been at the forefront of defending press freedom and the safety of reporters for years. Through ProtectDefenders.eu, European Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Brussels has provided since 2015 direct support to nearly 13.000 journalists in situations of danger, offering legal assistance, temporary shelter, psychological support and evacuation programs.

Only between September 2024 and August 2025, They were 943 journalists helped in a concrete way from the EU. Two new projects funded for a total of 20 million euros they are also strengthening independent media in over 40 countries, with particular attention to female journalists working in high-risk contexts or covering minorities, conflicts and human rights.

This support is part of a wider European Union commitment to defense of the rule of law and democratic values on a global scale, including countering regimes that criminalize information or restrict access to the internet.

Press freedom and pluralism: Europe also looks within its own borders.

Defending journalists isn't just a matter for faraway countries. Even within the European Union, press freedom is a priority. daily battle.
In recent years, numerous European reporters have faced threats, frivolous lawsuits, and political pressure. Some have even been assassinated: cases such as those of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta e Ján Kuciak in Slovakia they remain painful reminders of how dearly the truth can cost.

For this reason, the Commission promoted and approved the European Regulation on Media Freedom, which introduces unprecedented guarantees for the protection of journalists and the independence of editorial offices.
The regulation aims to avoid political interference, abuses of economic power e government pressure on the headlines, imposing transparency on media ownership, protections against illegal surveillance and an explicit prohibition on the use of spyware against journalists.

The EU has also established a Rapid Response Mechanism for Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists, managed by the consortium MFRR (Media Freedom Rapid Response), which monitors threats and attacks in all Member States and candidate countries.

The digital dimension: new frontiers of the threat

The expansion of digital has opened up enormous possibilities for information, but also new vulnerabilitiesJournalists, especially those working online, are today exposed to coordinated harassment on social media, cyber attacks, targeted disinformation campaigns e systematic violations of privacy.

The EU has launched several initiatives to counter illicit surveillance and digital manipulation, promoting the use of safe technologies, cybersecurity training , protection of personal data.
According to Commissioner McGrath, “protecting journalism in the digital world means protecting democracy itself, because truth requires secure infrastructure as much as it requires human courage.”

Democracy and Truth: A Collective Responsibility

The appeal launched by Brussels is also political and moral: freedom of the press cannot be taken for granted.

"Journalists' work allows societies to see clearly—and act," say Virkkunen, Kallas, and McGrath. "We call on all states to uphold their international obligations: to protect journalists and ensure accountability."

The message is addressed not only to governments, but also to citizens, the media and digital platforms, called to defend free information e resist the pressures of censorship and disinformation.

Freedom of the press – the European institutions remind us – it is not a privilege, but a fundamental right, and its protection is an essential condition for democracy, justice and peace.

A Europe that defends those who seek the truth

With the new funds earmarked for the protection of journalists, the consolidation of the European Regulation on Media Freedom and collaboration with international organizations such as UN, UNESCO, OSCE and IFJ, the European Union intends to become a global bastion for free and safe journalism.

But European representatives warn: the fight against impunity cannot be won with laws alone. We need a culture of respect, transparency and public responsibility, in which every threat to a journalist is perceived as a threat to the community.

On this World Day dedicated to those who risk their lives to tell the truth, the European Union renews its promise: no crime against journalists should go unpunished.
The message coming from Brussels is clear: protecting those who inform means protect everyone's freedom.

“A free press is the heart of democracy,” European leaders reiterate, “and no democracy can survive without the light of truth.”