The Council launched today EUNAVFOR ASPIDES. The objective of this defensive maritime security operation is to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf. Operation ASPIDES will ensure an EU naval presence in the area where numerous Houthi attacks have targeted international commercial vessels since October 2023. In close cooperation […]
EU member states’ representatives confirm agreement on European media freedom act
Member states’ EU ambassadors endorsed the provisional agreement reached on 15 December 2023 between the Council and the European Parliament’s negotiators on a new law to establish a common framework for media services in the EU internal market and to safeguard media freedom, media pluralism and editorial independence in the EU. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) […]
Council reaches agreement on new European Media Freedom Act
EU member state ambassadors have agreed the Council’s position on a new law to safeguard media freedom, pluralism and independence in the EU. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will establish a common framework for media services in the EU internal market and introduce measures aimed at protecting journalists and media providers from political interference while also making it easier for […]
Human rights breaches by Russia, in Sudan and in Hong Kong
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on the respect for human rights by Russia, in Sudan and in Hong Kong. Torture and criminal prosecution of Ukrainian minors Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov by the Russian Federation Parliament demands that the proceedings against Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov should end and the charges against […]
Rule of Law Report 2022: Commission issues specific recommendations to Member States
The Commission has today published the third annual Rule of Law Report. The report comes in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which further showcased the importance of upholding democratic values, human rights and the rule of law. It includes an overview of the trends in the EU as a whole and 27 country […]
Press freedom 2022: how are EU countries rated?
Journalism is coming under intense pressure as press freedom confronts an increasingly divided world, fuelled by disinformation. While Europe remains the most secure continent for journalists and media freedom, oppressive policies in certain countries and Russia’s war against Ukraine paint a worrying picture of the situation across the continent. Freedom of expression, media freedom and […]
European public consultation on Media Freedom Act
The Commission has published an open public consultation on the upcoming European Media Freedom Act, a landmark initiative announced by President von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union address to safeguard the pluralism and independence of the media in the EU internal market. This follows a call for evidence published on 21 December 2021 outlining the main aims of […]
The impact of the European Convention on Human Rights
Freedom from violence against women The Council of Europe has published a new “Freedom from violence against women” section of its dedicated website highlighting the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights, as part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The new section includes twelve case studies showing how judgments from the European Court of Human […]