Commemorating Europe Day 2025, a time to honor Freedom, Unity, and Peace, while marking the 75th anniversary of the momentous Schuman Declaration.
Today marks Europe Day, a significant occasion commemorating the founding of the European Union. This day serves as a time for reflection on both the achievements and challenges of the European Union, and this year, the focus is particularly on the democratic principles that underpin the Union.
A free, independent, and pluralistic press is a cornerstone of European democracy. It plays a critical role in holding power to account, informing citizens, and providing resilience against information manipulation and state-sponsored propaganda. In a rapidly changing and complex world, the importance of journalism rooted in knowledge and passion cannot be overstated. It gives meaning to the ideals of freedom, unity, and peace within the European Union.
However, the democratic principles of the European Union are currently under pressure from both within and outside its borders. The unchecked spread of AI-generated content by platforms and chatbots poses a risk to public trust in professional verified editorial sources. This is why organisations such as the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), and Reporter Without Borders (RSF) are united to defend an independent and pluralistic press in Europe.
The European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA), European Magazine Media Association (EMMA), News Media Europe, European Publishers Council (EPC), and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) are some of the key players working tirelessly to uphold the principles of a free press. These organisations operate online at www.enpa.eu, www.magazinemedia.eu, www.newsmediaeurope.eu, www.epceurope.eu, and https://europeanjournalists.org respectively.
Open conversation, collaboration, and a free press are key to confronting these challenges and building the resilience the European democracy needs. The future of European democracy depends on unity, courage, curiosity, inclusion, integrity, innovation, and a shared commitment to truth.
In this spirit, let us celebrate Europe Day and reaffirm our commitment to a free and independent press, a cornerstone of European democracy. Together, we can ensure that the values of freedom, unity, and peace continue to thrive within the European Union.
