On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Sunday 3 May, Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, strongly denounced the escalation of violence against the media around the world.
In a statement, she deplored the fact that 2025 had been “the deadliest year for journalists worldwide ever recorded”, particularly in conflict zones, asserting that “the killing of journalists and media professionals [...] should be fully investigated and those responsible must be held accountable”.
She condemned abusive legal manoeuvres restricting press freedom and the “repression against journalists taken by authoritarian regimes across the world”, citing in particular “the Iranian regime”.
The High Representative also expressed concern about the manipulation of information, denouncing “outlets posing as media” that are spreading fake news and echoing those in power. She warned that the consequence is that citizens are “increasingly inundated with propaganda and disinformation, disguised as news”.
In the face of these threats, Ms Kallas reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to defending “free, pluralistic, independent and qualitative journalism”. (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)