Back The impact of the health crisis on freedom of expression and media freedom

The impact of the health crisis on freedom of expression and media freedom

Freedom of expression and freedom of the media are one of the priorities of the European Union and the Council of Europe in the Western Balkans. The joint EU/CoE actions on Freedom of expression and freedom of the media (JUFREX) focuse on promoting freedom of expression and freedom of the media in line with European standards.

These actions target legal professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers), police authorities, media regulatory authorities and governmental bodies in charge of the media legislation and journalism related issues as well as media actors (journalists, associations of journalists, self-regulatory bodies, students of law and journalism and other media organisations).

During the crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemics, freedom expression and freedom of the media became more important than ever. It became clear that fake news and dissatisfactory reporting on this health crisis are largely contributing to even greater societal crisis.

Over a year ago, the declaration adopted by the Committee of Ministers in Helsinki on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe stressed that "free and pluralist public debate is an essential condition for democracy and we must take firm action to reverse the recent deterioration of freedom of expression in Europe". The work of the Council of Europe, including the activity of the Platform for Strengthening the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists, indicates that this trend has not been reversed, far from it. This challenge calls for co-ordinated action in various areas affecting freedom of expression.

The report published by the Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, aims to highlight areas where freedom of expression may be put under stress in the present circumstances and to recall the applicable standards and the means available to member states and the Council of Europe to meet the challenges they face. The translation in local language will raise awareness among the population about the process that shall lead towards overall improvement of the freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

The action on "Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia (JUFREX 2)” translated the report into Macedonian and made it available to all interested parties. This action is a part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, that enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, including where relevant within the framework of the EU enlargement process.

 Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe

English Macedonian

 The impact of the sanitary crisis on freedom of expression and media freedom – the report by the Council of Europe Secretary General

English Macedonian

Skopje 21 July 2020
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