Jourova, who is also a European Commissioner for Justice, stated that ‘we need to support and protect journalists because they are essential for democracy,’ regional media reported.

She described as urgent the need for national authorities to take measures to ensure that threatened journalists receive the necessary legal and psychological advice to deal with the situation, and advocated that security forces provide them with the necessary protection.

Her statements came when information published by the regional mechanism reveals more than 900 attacks on journalists in 2020 as they were working in the EU, including threats, violence or the destruction of materials.

The official recalled that the European Commission is working on a legislative proposal to be presented next year on the safeguard of media freedom and pluralism.

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