September 4, 2025

Karpacz, Poland – At the Economic Forum in Karpacz, six leading organizations issued a joint statement calling for urgent action to defend press freedom and counter disinformation in Europe. The declaration, titled “At the Crossroads: Defending Media Freedom Starts in Eastern Europe,” warns of the growing threats posed by populist movements, Russian hybrid warfare, and unregulated digital platforms.

The statement was presented on September 3 during a special podcast recording and is jointly supported by: Media Dialogue, the German Journalists’ Association (Deutscher Journalisten-Verband, DJV), the New European People’s Forum, the Defending Democracy Global Initiative, the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine, and CIVIL – Center for Freedom. The panel was also joined by the First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), bringing vital insights from a country at the very center of Russia’s war of aggression.

Key Concerns

• Press Freedom Under Pressure: Populist forces across Europe are undermining journalism by curtailing rights, increasing pressure on journalists, and withholding support for independent media in the digital age.

• Russian Hybrid War: Without strong, independent journalism, citizens are left vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda campaigns, especially those orchestrated by Russia and other authoritarian actors.

• Alarming Trends in Eastern Europe: The declaration highlights the upcoming Czech parliamentary elections in October, warning of parallels with Hungary and Slovakia, where populist governments have already rolled back press freedom and civil liberties.

Call to Action

The signatories urge European governments, parliaments, the European Parliament, and the European Commission to:

• Resist populist pressure and intimidation.

• Reinforce press freedom across Europe.

• Build on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and anti-SLAPP legislation with long-term, sustainable support for independent media.

• Take concrete steps to establish a functioning European media market, including platform regulation and digital sovereignty.

A Vision for European Media

The declaration stresses that defending press freedom alone is not enough. Europe must also create independent digital infrastructure – including search engines, social media platforms, and other tools – free from the influence of U.S. tech giants, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Kremlin.

The organizations invite other civil society groups, associations, and institutions across Europe to endorse and amplify the declaration in defense of press freedom and democratic values.

Signatories:

Media Dialogue
German Journalists’ Association (Deutscher Journalisten-Verband, DJV)
New European People’s Forum
Defending Democracy Global Initiative
Westminster Alliance for Ukraine
CIVIL – Center for Freedom