European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced strong support for media freedom and journalism in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament on 10 September 2025. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the announcement of a new ‘Media Resilience Programme’ and calls for journalists’ social and professional rights to be included and recognised as essential for quality journalism.
“We need to do more to protect our media and independent press. This is why we will launch a new ‘Media Resilience Programme’. It will support independent journalism and media literacy.”
While the next EU long-term budget (MFF) is being discussed, within a unique context defined by wars and defence investments, President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed her support for the rule of law, media freedom, and independent journalism. She also highlighted the importance of local media as bulwarks against disinformation, pointing to the challenges posed by the news deserts across Europe – where public support is vital to maintain the quality of local news and decent working conditions for local journalists.
“In some communities across Europe, traditional media are struggling. In many rural areas, the days of going out for a local newspaper is a nostalgic memory. This has created many news deserts where disinformation thrives. This is so dangerous for our democracy because informed citizens who can trust what they read and hear are essential to keep those in power accountable,” she said.
The EFJ welcomes the Commission President’s commitment to independent journalism and underscores that journalists, as its key actors and defenders, must be protected all over Europe.
The EFJ believes that EU support must promote the employment of journalists and decent working conditions that enable the production of high-quality journalistic content that complies with professional ethics and serves the public interest. In addition, media freedom must be consolidated through a strict and proactive implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
“While we welcome the recognition that journalism, especially at local level must be boosted, we wish to remind the President of the European Commission that only with ambitious regulation, be it through the DSA and DMA vis-a-vis the mostly American Big Tech or through the European Media Freedom Act, journalism can be secured in the long run,” said EFJ President Maja Sever. “The political will for a holistic approach that puts public interest journalism in the center of democratic resilience is urgent to save this crucial pillar of the rule of law,” she added.
Source: EFJ
