Public institutions and media actors reaffirmed their commitment to advancing freedom of expression and aligning media and legal practices with European standards.

The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media” took place in Pristina, gathering institutional partners and key stakeholders to reflect on progress made and discuss priorities for the remainder of the year. Participants reflected on key achievements and agreed on shared priorities to address persistent challenges and ensure sustained progress.

It brought together representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office/Development Co-operation Office, the Academy of Justice, the Kosovo Bar Association, the Independent Media Commission, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, as well as the European Union and the Council of Europe representatives. The meeting provided space for an open and constructive exchange. Participants reviewed key achievements and looked ahead to continued efforts supporting freedom of expression and media independence, in line with European standards.

The members of the steering committee acknowledged key achievements, including the action’s capacity-building efforts with legal professionals, which were recognised by the Academy of Justice as a valuable and sustainable contribution to strengthening the judiciary’s ability to address freedom of expression cases. Legislative support for the draft law on the Independent Media Commission and enhanced cross-community collaboration among journalists were also highlighted. The action’s targeted support for addressing SLAPPs and improving media monitoring during elections was noted as a further contribution to aligning local practices with European standards.

Building on work to date, the action will further contribute to strengthening local capacities, particularly by supporting legal professionals through its partners, such as the Academy of Justice and the Bar Association, in addressing freedom of expression through capacity-building activities and research on local case law on freedom of expression.

Attention will also be given to enhancing the legal and institutional framework for media regulation, with the Independent Media Commission receiving tailored support to advance its internal strategic planning and thematic research as well as improve the alignment of its bylaws.

In parallel, the action will continue its close cooperation with the journalistic community, particularly through the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, to support professional development, strengthen legal protections, and encourage dialogue around media freedom.

This initiative is carried out within the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye – Phase III”, under the action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media (PRO-FREX)”, implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression.