, the Council of Europe has noted the continuing threats faced by media professionals across Europe and highlighted the organisation's continued work to ensure accountability for crimes committed against them.
Each year, journalists across Europe face harassment, intimidation, violence and legal pressure for carrying out their work. Too many of these attacks remain unpunished, undermining press freedom and public trust in institutions. The Council of Europe's Journalists matter campaign works to foster dialogue, strengthen national mechanisms, and promote justice and protection for journalists.
Assaults on the fourth estate
According to the latest figures from the Council of Europe Platform for the safety of journalists, more than 2,000 serious threats to media freedom have been documented in the ten years since its creation. Many of these reports concern physical attacks, detention, online harassment and vexatious litigation - and hundreds have yet to receive an adequate response from their countries. Ending impunity for such crimes remains a core challenge for supporting democracy and the rule of law.
This year, the Council of Europe's work on journalist safety places special focus on prosecution and accountability. The 2025 edition of the annual Journalists matter Conference on the prosecution of crimes against journalists, held in Luxembourg, examined how prosecutors and law enforcement can improve investigations and strengthen legal frameworks to deter violence and protect freedom of expression.
At its mid-term stage, the Journalists matter campaign continues to drive change by mobilising governments, creating networks of national focal points and cooperation mechanisms, and fostering dialogue between journalists, police and judicial authorities. The campaign has contributed to greater trust among these actors and encouraged the adoption of national action plans on the safety of journalists.
While these advances mark important progress, the campaign also recognises that engagement remains uneven, and that sustained support is needed to ensure long-term impact. The involvement of journalists themselves, greater visibility, and a shared commitment across member countries will be key to ensuring that the protection of journalists becomes a lasting reality across Europe.
The aims of the campaign dovetail well with the Council of Europe's moves towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe, which is a collective effort to strengthen Europe's security architecture and make democracies in Europe more resilient, inclusive, and responsive to contemporary challenges. The Pact will look to safeguard public debate, ensuring citizens have access to accurate information through a free and pluralistic media landscape.
As part of International Day to end impunity, the Council of Europe reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that crimes against journalists are investigated, prosecuted and punished, and that every journalist can work freely and safely in the service of the public interest.
Watch the video on prosecution and the fight against impunity (please extract the video- the 3rd one on the right)
The New Democratic Pact for Europe
The Council of Europe and freedom of expression
