Independent journalism and media freedom are essential for democracy, especially in times of war. Suspilne Ukraine, the country’s public broadcaster, plays a crucial role in providing reliable information, upholding journalistic integrity, and ensuring media independence.

The Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, Maciej Janczak, met with Svitlana Ostapa, Head of the Supervisory Board of Suspilne Ukraine, alongside Vadym Miskyi, Secretary of the Supervisory Board, and Valeriia Bezpala, Head of Foreign Co-operation at Suspilne. The meeting focused on the upcoming elections for the Chair of Suspilne’s Management Board, scheduled for April 2025.

The Council of Europe has played a crucial role in strengthening Suspilne’s governance structures. The meeting acknowledged the recent revision of the Regulations on the Election of the Chair and Members of the Management Board of Suspilne, which was developed with expert input from the Council of Europe and officially adopted in October 2024. These regulations align with European standards of democratic governance and media independence.

During the meeting, Mr Janczak reiterated the Council of Europe's commitment to supporting Suspilne’s independence. He highlighted key European legal frameworks, including the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 10) and the Council of Europe Recommendations CM/Rec(2012)1 and CM/Rec(2018)1, which underline the necessity of shielding public service media from political and economic pressures.

Special recognition was given to Suspilne’s journalists working on the frontlines of the war, as well as its investigative team documenting Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine.

As part of its continued co-operation with Suspilne, the Council of Europe’s media project team has pledged to monitor the upcoming elections, ensuring that the process remains transparent and free from external influence.

The Head of the Supervisory Board, Ms Ostapa, expressed gratitude to the Council of Europe for its support in the reform of Suspilne: "Your support, particularly expert assistance, is invaluable. It helps us become more sustainable and professional. In our work, we are committed to the principles of openness, accountability, as well as impartiality and transparency in personnel policy. Notably, we have twice conducted a competitive selection process for the company's leadership, following the best European practices. We are fully prepared to do the same in the future."

The dialogue between Suspilne and the Council of Europe underscores the shared commitment to media freedom, transparency, and good governance. Ensuring an independent and democratic electoral process within Suspilne is not only crucial for Ukraine’s media landscape but also for its broader European integration efforts.

Suspilne Ukraine remains a cornerstone of independent journalism and media freedom. As Ukraine continues its democratic development, ensuring fair and transparent leadership elections within Suspilne is essential to safeguarding its editorial independence. The discussion reaffirmed the importance of non-interference and adherence to democratic principles in the electoral process.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe  Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.