EU Presidency Declaration on freedom of the press in Iran

The European Union expresses its grave concern about the worsening situation with regard to the freedom of the press in Iran. On 11 September, the Supervisory Board of the Press announced the closure of four newspapers, including the leading reformist daily, the Shargh.

This announcement is especially alarming given the already limited freedom of the press in Iran. In addition, the European Union finds the continued harassment of journalists, such as threats of prosecution, extremely worrying.

The European Union calls on the Iranian authorities to comply with their obligations to respect the freedom of the press and to allow Iranian journalists to practice their profession without harassment or intimidation.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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