A free press is the heartbeat of democracy. Society depends on journalists who shine a light on injustice and hold those in power accountable. Yet across the world, journalists continue to be killed, tortured, harassed, detained and forced into exile.
The International Federation of Journalists reported how fatal the pursuit of truth has been in many parts of the world in 2025.
International humanitarian law is clear: journalists are civilians and must be protected at all times. Every attack against them must be investigated promptly, independently, and effectively. All perpetrators must be held to account.
The EU supports independent journalism worldwide and provides protection to those at risk. We also work to address the growing threats in the digital sphere, where journalists increasingly face coordinated harassment, unlawful surveillance, and campaigns designed to discredit or intimidate them.
Since 2015, through the ProtectDefender.EU mechanism, the EU has provided direct support to nearly 13,000 journalists at risk worldwide, including 943 between September 2024 and August 2025 alone. Two new EU-funded projects worth a combined €20 million are now strengthening independent media in over 40 countries with a particular focus on women journalists, reporting on minority groups, or areas with little news coverage.
