The European Union called on all states to protect journalists, investigate crimes against them, and hold perpetrators accountable in a joint statement by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, High Representative Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner Michael McGrath on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

The statement stresses that across the world, journalists continue to be killed, tortured, harassed, detained and forced into exile for their reporting.

Journalists reporting from armed conflicts face particular danger. The EU reiterated that according to international humanitarian law, journalists are civilians who must be protected. Any attack or act of intimidation against them must be investigated promptly, independently and effectively.

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Among other threats, the statement lists harassment online, unlawful surveillance, campaigns designed to discredit or silence journalists, transnational repression, abusive lawsuits, economic coercion, and foreign interference. Women journalists are disproportionately targeted, the EU pointed out.

The EU reported that by the end of 2025, the European Commission had launched more than 100 projects in 56 countries, alongside global programmes supporting independent media. Since 2015, the ProtectDefender.eu mechanism has provided direct support to nearly 13,000 journalists at risk, including 686 in 2025 alone.

The statement also mentioned the European Media Freedom Act, which took effect in August 2025 and puts in place strong safeguards to ensure independence of the media and protection of journalists. The Commission has also committed to updating its Recommendation on the Safety of Journalists and step up support for implementing the EU’s existing framework to combat SLAPP suits.

The International Federation of Journalists reported that 15 journalists have been killed so far in 2026, while the Committee to Protect Journalists has counted 34 killings.

As reported earlier, Russia has committed 989 crimes against journalists and the media in Ukraine in the four years and eight months since the start of the full-scale invasion.