The struggles of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty this year, as well as the pressure on many other media outlets around the world, underline the immense risks that free and independent media face in 2025. Massive funding cuts, compounded by growing political repression and increasing violence towards journalists, are driving the media sector into a deep crisis. As public interest media struggle for survival, authoritarian regimes and disinformation actors move swiftly to fill the void, distorting facts and manipulating public opinion.
We are increasingly concerned by the growing threats to journalists and other media professionals, including online and offline intimidation and attacks, arbitrary detention, legal persecution and transnational repression, all aimed at silencing their work. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can intensify these risks by enabling pervasive surveillance and targeted harassment.
The European Union supports the vital efforts of UNESCO to protect journalists globally, with particular attention to women journalists who face heightened, gender-specific risks. UNESCO’s data and monitoring efforts play an essential role in informing effective policy responses to address the widespread impunity for crimes against journalists.
Across the world, free and independent media need urgent and decisive support. Without their survival, democracy falters, along with the safety, security and freedom of citizens. The European Union welcomes the OECD Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment as our common roadmap to strengthen media ecosystems worldwide. These principles must inspire concrete, transformative action to restore and expand support for independent journalism.
On this World Press Freedom Day, the European Union reaffirms its resolute commitment to defend free and independent journalism in the face of unprecedented threats. Without press freedom, our right to information, freedom to think critically and ability to hold people in power to account are compromised. A thriving, independent and pluralistic media sector is essential for the resilience and survival of democracy. We must act now to secure its future.