ENC brings together policymakers and media experts at the European Parliament to discuss protecting independent media
On 13 October 2026, the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) organised the high-level event “Protecting Independent Media and the Costs of Not Taking Action” at the European Parliament in Brussels. Hosted by MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew Europe Group), the event was held under the AGILE project, co-funded by the European Union and led by Informed (formerly Internews Europe), in partnership with CFI Media Development, Thomson Media, ARTICLE 19 and Fojo Media Institute.
The event opened with remarks by MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Jonathan Van Meerbeeck (Head of Sector for Democratic Governance, European Commission, DG INTPA) and Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (Managing Director, ENC). Vesterbye highlighted ENC’s long-standing cooperation with Internews, now Informed, across research, training, events and advocacy, reaffirming the central role of media and the information space in ENC’s work. David Dieudonné (Director of Informed France and Senior Director of Programmes at Informed) then delivered a keynote address entitled “The Costs of a Silenced Media”, examining the consequences of failing to protect independent journalism.
The panel “A Global Problem with Local Impacts – Lessons from the Field”, moderated by Farhod Rahimi Rahmat (Project Director, AGILE/Informed), brought together media partners from the Philippines, Colombia, Kenya and Europe to share first-hand perspectives on the pressures facing independent journalism. Speakers highlighted legal threats, gaps in anti-SLAPP protections, declining audience engagement as AI-generated summaries change how people access news, persistent information gaps affecting minority and remote communities, and the challenges of keeping journalism education abreast of rapid technological change.
A dedicated MEP panel featuring Nela Riehl (Volt( and Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew Europe) explored why the EU should invest in, develop and protect independent media, both within the Union and across its neighbourhood. Discussions focused on the European Parliament’s role in addressing the growing influence of big tech, declining advertising revenues and mounting political pressure on journalists. An open question-and-answer session gave participants the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers.
The event brought together approximately 100 participants, including Members of the European Parliament and parliamentary staff, officials from the European Commission (DG INTPA) and the European External Action Service, Brussels-based press freedom organisations, civil society representatives, journalists, academics and students.
The discussions reinforced a central message: protecting independent media requires sustained investment, coordinated support and action to address the legal, financial and technological pressures threatening journalism.