European Commission supports worldwide press freedom

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, said: "Promoting Democracy and Human Rights is an essential element of our foreign policy. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. Freedom of expression therefore needs to be supported throughout the world to enable the building vibrant civil societies and to empower people to participate in the democratic debate and to hold governments and other power holders accountable on all issues affecting their lives."

Freedom of press is still under serious attack in various guises in many countries, and unfortunately not only autocratic ones. Journalists are intimidated, censored and killed around the world because of their commitment to unbiased and truthful reporting. The European Commission is committed to protect and promote freedom of press worldwide. Since many years the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights has supported activities enhancing freedom of expression, the independence of media, strengthening professionalism and ethics in journalism as well as providing assistance to human rights defenders who become targets of threats because they denounce infringements on the freedom of expression.

| Arriba |

• The European Commission supports committed journalism: launch of Lorenzo Natali Prize (27/3/2008)
• 2006 Natali Prize: Awarded to Hong Kong-based journalist Leu Siew Ying (3/5/2007)