Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

The application of the right to freedom of expression in the everyday practice was in the focus of the (online) lecture with the law and journalism students in Pristina, organised with the support of the EU and Council of Europe joint action on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the media (JUFREX), in cooperation with the Kosovo* Association of Journalists

19 students actively participated in this event during which the lecturers presented an overview of the right to freedom of expression principles, its restrictions and key domains (including the freedom of the media, the protection of reputation, the whistleblowing and the right to access public documents).

The lecture was based on the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) standards and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) jurisprudence in regard to cases on freedom of expression. During the event the participants had the opportunity to discuss the important role of the journalists for the democratic societies, their challenges and protection framework for the safety of journalists.

JUFREX is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, a co-operation initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, which aims at assisting Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans region and Turkey to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process, where relevant.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.