News on freedom of expression
Monitoring of Audiovisual Media for better protection of Freedom of Expression in Albania
Albania authorities are taking steps to ensure a more effective monitoring of audiovisual media content, for a better protection of freedom of expression in line with European standards. Professionals from the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) participated in a capacity building session,...
New Guide helps journalists in North Macedonia recognise and respond to SLAPP-s
Journalists and media professionals in North Macedonia now have a practical guide to help them recognise, prevent and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), strengthening their ability to protect freedom of expression and continue reporting on matters of public...
Revised Code strengthens ethical journalism and media self-regulation in Montenegro
Montenegro has presented the revised Code of Journalists, strengthening ethical journalism and media self-regulation while helping the profession respond to the opportunities and challenges of today's rapidly evolving media landscape. Presented at Europe House in Podgorica, the revised Code is...
Institutions join forces to strengthen the safety of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Prosecutors and police officers serving as contact points for the safety of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthened their co-operation and exchanged practical experiences in Banja Luka on 17 and 18 June, as part of ongoing efforts for a more effective response to threats and attacks...
Montenegro and Moldova exchange experience on protecting elections from disinformation
Representatives of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services of Montenegro concluded a three-day peer-to-peer exchange visit to Chișinău, engaging with Moldovan institutions, civil society organisations, and international partners on issues related to election integrity, countering...
Judges in North Macedonia strengthen skills on freedom of expression
The Basic Court in Gostivar hosted a capacity building activity on the “Protection of Honour and Reputation in the Context of the Right to Freedom of Expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The activity brought together judges from the Basic Courts of...
Council of Europe and Judicial Academy launch first training-of-trainers programme on countering SLAPPs for Serbian judges
Senior judges from Serbia strengthened their capacity to recognise and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), following the first training-of-trainers programme for judges in Serbia organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Judicial Academy. The...
Agreement reached on advancing online content regulation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Representatives of public institutions, independent regulatory bodies, the media, academia, and civil society reached agreement on key principles for improving the governance of online content in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular focus on the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2026)4...
Freedom of expression, defamation and SLAPPs addressed with lawyers in Pristina
Key European standards and practical aspects related to freedom of expression, protection of reputation and abusive litigation (SLAPPs) were addressed during a training with lawyers in Pristina. Participants exchanged on core principles of freedom of expression, including relevant international...
Council of Europe research on media user preferences takes centre stage at Radio Days Serbia
What do citizens in Serbia really expect from their media, and who do they trust? The main findings of the comprehensive study Media User Preferences in Serbia were presented through a panel at Radio Days, a conference of regional and local radio media outlets organised by the Association of...
Learning from European best practices in advancing digital oversight and platform accountability
Audiovisual media regulators from Montenegro and North Macedonia concluded a two-day study visit to Dublin to exchange on European best practices on media regulation, online safety, and the supervision of global digital platforms. The study-visit combined direct exchanges with Irish counterparts...
AI Meets Human Rights: Strengthening Data Protection in North Macedonia
Аs Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become an integral part of everyday life, AI systems increasingly rely on vast amounts of personal data, raising important questions about privacy, transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights. In this context, a one-day...
Serbian media and justice actors step up co-operation to strengthen privacy protection online
Judges, lawyers, media regulators, data protection authorities, and journalists agreed to improve co-operation on privacy protection in Serbia’s digital media environment, following a two-day Council of Europe event focused on legal standards and practical responses to emerging privacy...
Institutions call for stronger co-ordination to better protect journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Improving co-operation between police and prosecutors, strengthening the role of contact points for journalist safety, and developing a strategic approach to systemic protection of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina : these were the key conclusions of a conference on the safety of journalists,...
Strengthening co-operation to protect media freedom: legal risks and safeguards discussed in Pristina
The escalating threat posed by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) has intensified the need for joint action and robust support networks among journalists, media professionals, and legal practitioners. Co-operation at domestic and European levels would be essential to provide...
Albania steps up efforts to meet European standards on media and digital services
As Albania progresses in its legal framework with European standards, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) gathered in Tirana to discuss key provisions on transparency, user...
Voices from the audience: A deep dive into Serbia’s media needs
What do citizens in Serbia really expect from their media, and who do they trust? A new comprehensive study, “Media User Preferences in Serbia”, presented today in Belgrade by The Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), offers the first...
On the frontlines of journalists safety in the Western Balkans
Dragan Sekulovski, Executive Director of the Association of Journalists of North Macedonia, has long been one of the leading voices on journalists’ safety in the Western Balkans. Through his role with the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, in particular under the...
Silencing truth: Confronting SLAPPs and defending press freedom in North Macedonia
Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, free voices from North Macedonia are sounding the alarm about a growing threat to democracy: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These lawsuits, often disguised as defamation or civil claims, are increasingly used to intimidate...
Inside the struggle for gender-sensitive reporting
“We cannot say that we are close to a point where the media promote gender equality, avoid stereotypes, and empower women and marginalised groups.” With that blunt assessment, journalist Aleksandra Ničić sets the tone for a conversation that goes far beyond individual newsroom habits and speaks...
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