The Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) is the first phase of the four-year Action implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for the period of 2023-2026 (hereinafter “the Action Plan”) that aims to address the urgent needs of major stakeholders and media players in the country amid the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.

In the process of preparing the Action Plan and developing the Project, the Council of Europe carried out a thorough analysis of the national context and organised consultation with major stakeholders and partners in the fields of media, freedom of expression and freedom of access to information to assess their needs and priorities for the next few years. This includes, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the National Council of Television and and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the Public Broadcasting Company (Suspilne), the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Parliament of Ukraine, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), members of the media community, civil society representatives, academia, etc. Particular attention was given to the conflict-related threats and challenges faced by the media community in Ukraine and other actors, ensuring timely support throughout the war and in the post-conflict environment. 

The Project’s activities are structured around three components focusing on:

Component 1: Alignment of Ukraine’s framework on media, freedom of expression and freedom of access to information with the European standards.

Component 2: Effective implementation of the legal framework governing the protection of journalists, public broadcasting and regulatory authority in line with European standards.

Component 3: Effective and efficient communication strategies governing a balanced media coverage and preventing information disorder.

The Project has the following target beneficiary institutions: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (Suspilne), Ombudsperson’s Office, Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, journalists and media organisations, civic society organisations, academia, others.

  TECHNICAL PAPER Defining the Journalist: International Standards

  Preliminary Legislative and Policy Proposals for implementation of Council of Europe and EU standards to counter SLAPPs in Ukraine

 LEGAL OPINION on the alignment with European standards of the Draft Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Amendments to the  Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No 1039 dated 28 December 2016 and the Order of the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine No 18 dated 16 January 2017”

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine ‘On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine Regarding the Establishment of Criminal Liability for Unauthorised Interference, Sale, or Distribution of Information Processed in Public Electronic Registers and Strengthening Criminal Liability During Martial Law for Criminal Offenses in the Sphere of Using Information and Communication Systems’ (registered No.10242)

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws on Media Activity” (Register No. 12111)

 Legal Opinion on the Draft Law of Ukraine №11321 (Law No. 4212-IX of 14 January 2025) "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Strengthening Certain Guarantees for the Activities of Media and Journalists and Ensuring the Right of Citizens to Access Information"

 LEGAL OPINION on the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amending the Law of Ukraine “On Advertising” and Other Laws of Ukraine

 Legal Opinion on the additional amendments to Draft Law No. 12111 of Ukraine

 Assessment of the position of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) on Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Media Activities (Registration No. 12111)

 LEGAL OPINION On the Draft Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Citizens’ Rights to Reliable Information and Ensuring Information Security, Carried Out by the National Regulator”