The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging the European Commission to transform its European Democracy Shield from a conceptual framework into concrete action. The watchdog is calling on EU member states to provide robust financial support and demonstrate genuine political commitment to defending media freedom.
The organisation notes that while the European Union has developed promising tools, such as the 2024 European Media Freedom Act, the 2022 Directive against Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits, and the 2021 Recommendation on journalists' safety, these policies require effective implementation. CPJ is now pushing for a clear roadmap that moves beyond policy creation to practical enforcement. As negotiations for the EU's 2028 to 2034 budget approach, the CPJ emphasises the critical importance of prioritising media freedom.
The withdrawal of U.S. financial support after USAID’s slashing by the Trump Administration and declining advertising revenues have pushed smaller independent media outlets into crisis. The CPJ is calling on the European Commission to address these economic pressures and provide sustainable funding mechanisms to support independent journalism.
Key to their demands is a renewed political will from EU member states. This includes ensuring that existing legal frameworks are not just written, but actively applied to safeguard journalists and media independence.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that represents and advocates for over 20,000 journalists worldwide across various countries and regions. The announcement follows:
EU must make media reforms a reality in the European Democracy Shield
May 27, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the European Commission to call on member states to provide both financing and political will to defend media freedom as it moves forward with its European Democracy Shield initiative.
Public consultations for the proposed shield, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in 2024, closed on May 26.
The Commission has stated that defence of the press will be an “important part” of the initiative, which seeks to address foreign interference online, and counter disinformation and information manipulation, as well as other threats to democratic processes.
During its 2019 to 2024 term, the European Commission stepped up its defence of media freedom, with actions including:
The 2024 European Media Freedom Act is to stop media capture by vested interests.
A 2022 Directive and Recommendation to limit the use of vexatious lawsuits filed to censor critical reporting, known as SLAPPS, or Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation;
The 2021 Recommendation on journalists’ safety, which guides member states on how to protect journalists.
“Brussels has created the tools for strengthening media freedom in Europe, but journalists need to see that they work,” said CPJ Deputy Advocacy Director, EU, Tom Gibson. “The European Democracy Shield should provide a clear roadmap to push existing reforms forward. EU member states should respond with both financial commitments to ensure its success and renewed political will to save journalism in Europe.”
The impact of recent initiatives has yet to be seen. As CPJ noted in its 2023 report, “Fragile Progress: The struggle for Press Freedom in the European Union," improved and sustained action from Brussels is needed to ensure member states deliver on the reforms.
The question of Europe’s political will coincides with a dire financial outlook for the media worldwide, including a shift to digital platforms and declining advertising revenues. The Trump administration’s withdrawal of U.S. financial support has plunged many independent media outlets in Europe into crisis.
Negotiations over the EU’s 2028 to 2034 budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, are likely to be tense, in part because of diverging outlooks from member states and economic pressures.
Read CPJ’s full recommendations to the European Commission on the European Democracy Shield here.
Illustration: Courtesy of EFSJ
