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Time Business News
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
The Strategic Use of European Passports for Global Reinvention
Vancouver, Canada — In a world defined by shifting political alliances, unpredictable economic cycles, and rapidly changing migration policies, individuals with the foresight to diversify their citizenship options are gaining a distinct strategic advantage. Among the various citizenships available globally, European passports stand out as both a practical tool and a symbol of stability. They are increasingly being used not just for mobility but for full-scale life reinvention, enabling individuals to reset their personal, professional, and financial trajectories within a robust legal framework. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in multi-jurisdictional identity strategies, has observed a significant rise in clients who use European citizenship not simply as a travel convenience, but as the foundation for building a new chapter in their lives. From entrepreneurs seeking to expand into European markets to families looking for better education and healthcare access, the appeal of European passports spans continents and professions. Why European Citizenship Has Global Pull Europe offers more than picturesque cities and cultural heritage. It represents a legal, political, and economic system that provides some of the strongest protections and most extensive rights available to citizens anywhere in the world. European Union (EU) citizenship grants: Freedom of Movement — The ability to live, work, and study in any EU member state without additional visas or permits. — The ability to live, work, and study in any EU member state without additional visas or permits. Global Travel Access — Many European passports rank in the top tier of global mobility indexes, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries. — Many European passports rank in the top tier of global mobility indexes, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries. Robust Legal Protections — Rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including privacy, non-discrimination, and access to justice. — Rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including privacy, non-discrimination, and access to justice. Economic Opportunity — Entry into one of the world's largest single markets, with integrated trade, investment, and financial systems. Non-EU European passports, such as those from Norway, Switzerland, or Iceland, still deliver substantial mobility and legal advantages through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and bilateral agreements. Legal Pathways to Acquiring a European Passport The specific path to a European passport varies depending on nationality, ancestry, and financial capacity. Amicus International Consulting typically evaluates multiple avenues for each client: 1. Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis) Many European countries grant citizenship to individuals who can prove descent from a citizen, sometimes across several generations. Italy, for example, places no generational limit if records are in order, while Ireland allows claims from grandparents and even great-grandparents. 2. Citizenship by Naturalization This requires a period of legal residence, which can range from three years in countries like Belgium (with integration) to ten years in Spain. Residency often brings interim benefits such as healthcare access, business rights, and local mobility. 3. Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Although the EU has tightened scrutiny on investment-based citizenship, Malta still offers a structured program combining residency with a fast-track citizenship option through economic contributions. 4. Citizenship by Marriage In many European states, marriage to a citizen can shorten residency requirements for naturalization, often by several years. 5. Special Merit Citizenship Awarded for exceptional contributions in fields such as science, sports, or culture, though it is rarely granted and is subject to strict government discretion. The Passport as a Tool for Reinvention For many Amicus clients, the European passport is not the end goal but the means to achieve a larger transformation. It becomes a legal foundation upon which to build a redesigned life. Strategic uses include: Geographic Relocation — Moving to a safer, more stable environment for family life. — Moving to a safer, more stable environment for family life. Business Expansion — Accessing European markets and benefiting from EU trade agreements with over 70 countries. — Accessing European markets and benefiting from EU trade agreements with over 70 countries. Educational Opportunity — Enrolling in top-tier universities at reduced tuition rates available to citizens. — Enrolling in top-tier universities at reduced tuition rates available to citizens. Financial Structuring — Holding assets under jurisdictions with predictable regulations and strong property rights. — Holding assets under jurisdictions with predictable regulations and strong property rights. Lifestyle Design — Choosing residence in regions offering specific climates, cultures, or tax regimes. Case Study: Reinvention Through Dual European Passports A Middle Eastern investor and philanthropist approached Amicus International Consulting seeking to reposition both personal and business life away from increasing political instability in the home region. Step 1: Multi-Pathway Evaluation Amicus identified Irish citizenship by descent through a grandparent, and also considered Portugal's Golden Visa as a parallel route. Step 2: Documentation and Ancestry Proof Records were sourced from church archives in Ireland and immigration databases abroad. Simultaneously, the client began the Golden Visa application to secure immediate EU residency. Step 3: Business Relocation A European holding company was registered in Portugal to consolidate investments and qualify for residency. Step 4: Citizenship Confirmation After 18 months of processing, Irish citizenship was granted, giving full EU mobility rights. The Golden Visa was retained for property and investment diversification. Step 5: Life Transition The client moved the family to Spain, established philanthropic initiatives in multiple EU countries, and gained the ability to travel visa-free to nearly every intended business destination. The outcome was a complete legal reinvention that preserved the client's global influence while increasing privacy, mobility, and stability. Privacy and Legal Protections European citizens benefit from some of the most comprehensive privacy protections in the world under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This includes: Rights to control personal data collection and usage. Requirements for organizations to disclose how data is handled. Legal remedies for breaches and misuse of information. For high-privacy clients, this legal shield is a significant factor in choosing European citizenship as part of an identity transformation plan. Compliance and Responsibilities With the benefits of European citizenship come responsibilities: Taxation — While most EU countries tax based on residence rather than citizenship, moving between jurisdictions may create reporting obligations. — While most EU countries tax based on residence rather than citizenship, moving between jurisdictions may create reporting obligations. Civic Duties — Participation in national and EU elections, and some countries, jury service or limited national service. — Participation in national and EU elections, and some countries, jury service or limited national service. Legal Obligations — Compliance with both EU law and the domestic laws of the country of citizenship. Amicus ensures clients understand and meet all obligations to maintain citizenship without risk of revocation. Choosing the Right European Jurisdiction The choice depends on: Mobility Score — Some passports include unique access (e.g., visa-free travel to certain regions outside the EU). — Some passports include unique access (e.g., visa-free travel to certain regions outside the EU). Residency Requirements — For naturalization or investment programs. — For naturalization or investment programs. Cultural and Language Fit — For ease of integration and daily life. — For ease of integration and daily life. Tax Regime — Impact on personal and corporate holdings. Amicus uses a proprietary scoring model that weighs these factors against client objectives to select the optimal jurisdiction. European Passports in Multi-Jurisdictional Strategies A European passport often forms one layer in a multi-passport strategy, paired with citizenship from another region, such as the Caribbean, for expanded visa access or a low-tax jurisdiction for strategic residency. This layered approach provides redundancy in mobility and jurisdictional protection against political or economic shifts. Geopolitical Considerations Even as Europe faces internal challenges, its passport remains one of the most valuable in the world. Political neutrality, strong economies, and extensive treaty networks mean European citizens can maintain access to global opportunities regardless of external instability. Common Misconceptions 'A European passport will automatically reduce my taxes.' In reality, tax obligations depend on where you live, not just citizenship. In reality, tax obligations depend on where you live, not just citizenship. 'EU privacy laws mean no one can access my information.' While GDPR is strong, law enforcement and treaty partners can access data when required. While GDPR is strong, law enforcement and treaty partners can access data when required. 'It's quick and easy to get citizenship by investment anywhere in Europe.' The reality is that most programs have tightened due diligence and timelines. Future Outlook Demand for European passports is projected to grow as individuals seek resilience against global instability. EU policymakers are likely to continue refining eligibility rules, particularly for investment-based programs, balancing security with economic benefits. An Amicus International Consulting representative summarizes: 'A European passport is more than a travel document. It is a strategic asset for personal reinvention, offering clients the legal, economic, and cultural foundation to start fresh on their terms.' Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Euronews
16-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Hungary hit by proposed rule of law conditions in next EU budget
New rule of law conditions for payments in the next budget cycle proposed on Wednesday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could impact Hungary and threaten to cut off more funding channels from Brussels, according to draft rules seen by Euronews. "The rule of law must be respected unconditionally, and this is binding on all the bases of the EU budget. But with the next multiannual financial framework we will go further," said von der Leyen. "In the National Regional Partnership Plans, we are making the rule of law and fundamental rights a condition for investment and a focus for reform. This will be about smart conditionality," she added. Von der Leyen also said that EU money will be spent responsibly, with very strong safeguards, clear conditionality and appropriate incentives, "because this is in the interest of citizens". The National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPs) package, which von der Leyen mentioned, is the biggest item in the seven-year budget plan, accounting for almost half of total spending, €865 billion, if the budget figures are adopted per the proposal. The Commission President did not give details on the specific form of the rule of law checks that would be carried out on the programmes under the NRPs. New strict rule of law conditions are coming, according to a document obtained by Euronews However, the draft regulations obtained by Euronews show that a member state will have to comply with EU core values in order to be awarded projects. Here, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 2 of the EU Treaty on fundamental rights, is mentioned in the regulations, but it also states that member states must not violate the principle of gender equality. Another new feature of the legislation is that payments will be linked to the annual rule of law report. If these rule of law conditions are not met, the Commission will notify the member state concerned and if there is no change, the Council may suspend payments. The rules spell out the need to promote open, rights-based, democratic and inclusive societies and to strengthen the judiciary, the fight against corruption and media diversity. Transparency would also be improved by publishing a list of final beneficiaries of EU funds in a central database. Also included in the budget proposal is the strong AgoraEU line, which together with ERasmus+ will receive €49 billion. This is intended to support common EU values, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of the press and civil society organisations. Hungary could face a difficult situation in the next budget cycle Hungary is currently the country most criticised in the European Union for issues related to the rule of law. Hungary is also the only country to be subject to Article 7 proceedings in the Council, which could in principle end with the withdrawal of voting rights. Hungary is also the only country to be subject to the Rule of Law Procedure, which has been used to suspend EU funds because of the risk of systemic corruption. The Hungarian government has described these procedures and accusations as acts of political revenge. Of the current running EU budget, Hungary can now essentially only use cohesion and agricultural funds. However, these are due to be merged into a programme called National and Regional Partnership Plans, so that in future these funds could be suspended by Brussels if it deems the rule of law to be inadequate. However, the budget proposal presented now is far from final, as it will have to be agreed with the European Parliament and member states. Moreover, each member state, including Hungary, has a veto on the seven-year budget.
The Journal
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
With fear and courage, Hungarians are refusing to let their government beat them down
IN THE BOOKSHOPS of Budapest, books that were easily available only a few years ago can no longer be openly found on the shelves. In police stations, authorities are preparing to use facial recognition software to identify and imprison organisers of the annual Pride parade. And in the homes of the city's LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones, people are anxiously watching as their government chips away at hard-fought-for human rights and democracy. Across the border – west to Romania, or north to Slovakia – more European Union citizens wonder if their country will be the next to ban Pride. Budapest Pride is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Organised Pride events started out small – a film festival; picnics on a mountain outside of the city – at a time when Hungary was only a few years out of the Soviet Union and most LGBTQ+ people weren't safe to let their identity be publicly known. The first march was in 1997, and the marches have continued each year since then (aside from 2020 on account of the pandemic). But this year, the Hungarian government wants to imprison its organisers. The Hungarian parliament buildings along the River Danube Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has led the country for almost as long as Pride has existed there, serving from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2010 up to the present day. During that time, his party, Fidesz – which once occupied the same political grouping in the EU as Fine Gael – has moved further and further to the right. In 2021, the parliament passed legislation to restrict the visibility of LGBTQ+ content, embedding into law that only over-18s should be allowed to engage with information and media that pertains in some way to LGBTQ+ people. The law has had numerous ramifications. For one, it's meant that bookshops have had to take children's books with LGBTQ+ characters off the shelves or wrap them up in plastic. One of the country's bookshop chains, Líra Könyv, was fined $34,000 in 2023 for failing to wrap up 'Heartstopper', a popular book-turned-Netflix hit featuring a relationship between two teenage boys. A legal opinion for the EU Court of Justice said that by enacting the law, Hungary has violated the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights by interfering with rights to human dignity, to freedom of expression, and to protection from discrimination. The country has 'significantly deviated from the model of a constitutional democracy'. On top of the anti-LGBTQ+ law, Hungary passed legislation this year curtailing freedom of assembly and introduced sweeping new powers to prosecute participants and organisers of protests. The government layered those laws to justify a ban on the Pride parade that's scheduled to take place in Budapest today. Budapest's mayor, a left-wing politician, said he could get around the restrictions by taking over the event to host it on a municipal level. Nonetheless, police intend to enforce the ban, and it's expected that attendees identified as taking part could be fined up to €500, and organisers could face imprisonment of up to a year. It is a distressing time to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary. But the government's mounting attacks, while repressive, have also emboldened many people to stand up for their rights and refuse to be pushed to the sidelines of society. A community centre in Budapest Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal Maja has been an event organiser at a community centre in Budapest for the last two years. The centre collaborates with several human rights campaigns and hosts music gigs, workshops, exhibitions, film nights and more. When The Journal visited, there were plenty of locals enjoying a warm summer's evening in the garden, and a poster-painting session inside to create banners for the Pride march. Advertisement The centre is due to have a tent at the end point of the Pride parade in what's known as the 'civil village'; a kind of fair where various groups and organisations set up stalls. 'Last year we had little bingo cards in the tent – the goal was to get people to talk to each other and to build community. We also had an exhibition about how it's important that Pride has to be about solidarity, and how it's more than just big corporations going out with the rainbow,' she said, referring to businesses that support Pride when it suits them but shy away when it doesn't. 'This was a big topic this year in Hungary. When they first talked about banning Pride, a lot of big corporations stayed very, very quiet. There were big corporations who went out to march when it was more accepted or 'trendy', but they are now really quiet and not trying to help the community.' Poster-making for Pride at the community centre Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal One of the biggest differences this year compared to others is the level of preparation that's gone in to organising and participating. 'This year we have to do a lot more preparation about what can you do in advance, what can you do there, what can you do after if they fine you for being there,' Maja said. 'There are different groups or blocks that march in the Pride, including a group that's in solidarity with Palestine, and that's also something that here that's banned – just marching with the Palestine flag. 'There's a lot of preparation for how to show what's important to you, how to show what you believe in, and how to march for your rights and your community and not a fine or get taken away by cops.' Maja expects that people who may not ordinarily attend Pride will turn out this year to support the community. 'My impression is that not just people who already belong to the community will march this year, but also a lot of others. Liberals who normally don't go to Pride because it's not that personal for them, but now, in this kind of political climate, there's a lot more people who will go.' Simon is from the UK and has lived in Budapest since 2016, where he worked for three years before retiring. He's always gone to the annual Pride parades but he thinks this one is going to be 'by far' the most important, and that it could be a tipping point for change. He has friends from other countries in Europe who are coming to the Budapest march to show solidarity, and expects, like Maja, that it's going to have a larger attendance than usual because of the volume of additional support. He said that while Pride in some other countries has become mostly a celebration, in Hungary, it's still fundamentally a protest because of the discrimination that the community faces. Simon said he's aware of the possibility that taking part could be dangerous and is a little concerned about the facial recognition software. He 'probably won't dress wildly flamboyant' the way he has at other Prides, but at the same time, he's 'not going to hide'. Simon said Pride in Budapest is still fundamentally a protest Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal Even as the government tries to marginalise Hungary's LGBTQ+ community, in Budapest, there are a number of local spots and events that pop up that bring people together. There's a popular restaurant and bar along the Danube where you can have a spot of brunch while watching a Drag Queen perform, or go along of an evening for a weekly Drag Queen-hosted bingo. Inside the restaurant one evening this week, a women from South America who moved to Hungary several years ago told The Journal that she's attended Pride each year since she arrived in Budapest but that she won't be going this year. Related Reads Irish politicians to attend Budapest Pride as Hungary threatens participants with fines Budapest mayor threatened with imprisonment as he defies police to host Pride parade It's too dangerous, she said, for people like her and her friends who could risk losing immigrant work visas. At a conference on Thursday organised by Budapest Pride, speakers warned that what's happening in Hungary is a warning bell for human rights and democracy around Europe. Asked to give a worst-case scenario forecast of where Europe could be in ten years, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said a repeat of the 1930s is not beyond the realm of possibility – though he strongly hopes it won't come to that. German MEP Terry Reintke, the co-chair of the Greens/EFA political grouping, said during a panel discussion that 'the far-right is growing stronger'. 'They have a very aggressive agenda, and for me, this is about trying to keep the far-right in check – and that depends on how other democratic forces are going to react to this.' András Léderer of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a Budapest-based human rights monitor, said the Hungarian government's aim is to 'discourage individual citizens to dare to behave as individual citizens, to have an opinion, to go and meet with like-minded people and discuss those issues'. 'The political calculation in Hungary was that it can isolate and alienate people who dare to behave as citizens.' András Léderer of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee speaking at the Budapest Pride conference Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal Later that day, The Journal visited a Pride event being held by a small film club. It convened in an apartment-turned-community library nestled inside a winding maze of a shared building, with books lining the walls almost from floor to ceiling. Around sixteen film enthusiasts gathered to watch the items on the night's agenda. The theme was centred around marking two significant advancements internationally for LGBTQ+ rights a decade ago in 2015. One was the US Supreme Court's ruling to allow same-sex marriage; the other was Ireland making that same choice by referendum. In Hungary, same-sex marriage is prohibited by the country's constitution, which was enacted by Orbán's government in 2012. A film club in Budapest watched two campaign videos from the Yes side of Ireland's marriage equality referendum Lauren Boland / The Journal Lauren Boland / The Journal / The Journal The organisers gave a short presentation about Ireland, the marriage referendum, and this year's Dublin Pride. With Hungarian subtitles on the screen, they played two of the campaign videos that were shared in the lead-up to the vote by the Yes side. The first was the 'Can I have Sinead's hand?' ad where a man asks everyone he meets for permission to marry his girlfriend, the message being that no-one should have to ask tens of thousands of others for sign-off to marry whom they choose. The second was probably the most prominent ad that came out of the Yes campaign – the one where young adults ask their family members to come with them to vote. 'Mam, it's time.' 'Granny, do you need a lift to the polling station?' You know the one. In a dark library, in a city struggling to stand up for itself, it made for emotional viewing – a reminder of how tirelessly the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland had to fight for equal rights; of how little time, really, has passed since then; of how many people in the world are still fighting that battle, like the Hungarians who were there watching, waiting, wondering when it might be their turn to celebrate equality too. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Hungary's infamous ban on LGBTQ+ content deemed to be violation of EU law
A HUNGARIAN LAW that harshly restricts access to LGBTQ-related content is a violation of European Union law, according to the Advocate General of the EU's Court of Justice. By banning content about LGBTQ+ sexualities and gender identities from being available to under-18s, Hungary is infringing on the treaty that sets out the EU's fundamental principles, the Advocate General's formal legal opinion stated. The Treaty of the European Union outlines that the EU is 'founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities'. By calling into question the equality of LGBTQ+ people, Hungary has 'negated' several of the EU's fundamental values, Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta said. It has also 'significantly deviated from the model of a constitutional democracy'. In 2021, Hungary's parliament passed a bill that effectively banned communicating with children and teenagers about sexual orientations and gender identities . The impacts affected education programmes, meaning students could not be educated about LGBTQ+ identities, and media like books and movies, including movies that depict LGBTQ+ being classified as 18+. The European Commission brought an infringement action before the Court of Justice against Hungary over the law and Ćapeta has now set out her legal opinion that the Court rule the action is well-founded. She said the legislation infringed on the freedom enshrined in EU law to provide and receive services. Advertisement It also interferes with fundamental rights protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, namely the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex and sexual orientation; respect for private and family life; freedom of expression and information; and the right to human dignity. Capéta said these interferences cannot be justified by the reasons put forward by Hungary, which tried to argue for the law on the basis of protection of the 'healthy development of minors' and the 'right of parents to raise their children according to their personal convictions'. The Advocate General said the Hungarian legislation is not limited to shielding minors from pornographic content, which was already prohibited by the law in Hungary prior to the 2021 legislation, and goes as far as prohibiting the portrayal of ordinary lives of LGBTQ+ people. She said that Hungary has not offered any proof of a potential risk of harm of content that portrays ordinary lives of LGBTQ+ people to the healthy development of minors and that consequently, its legislation is 'based on a value judgment that homosexual and non-cisgender life is not of equal value or status as heterosexual and cisgender life'. The EU legal system recognises that there can be different visions among member states about how common values should be implemented in practice, and that disagreements about fundamental rights should not result in a finding of an infringement of the Treaty of the European Union. However, Hungary's actions in this case are not a matter of a 'disagreement', Capéta said. She said that LGBTQ+ people being deserving of equal respect in member states is 'not open to contestation through dialogue'. She said: Disrespect and marginalisation of a group in a society are the 'red lines' imposed by the values of equality, human dignity and respect for human rights. As such, 'by calling into question the equality of LGBTI persons, Hungary is not demonstrating a disagreement or a divergence about the content of the values of the European Union'. 'Instead, that Member State has negated several of those fundamental values and, thus, has significantly deviated from the model of a constitutional democracy, reflected in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union.' An Advocate General's opinion is not binding on the Court of Justice but gives the Court a proposed legal solution to cases it is responsible for. Related Reads 'Weeping for this country': Struggle continues in Hungary as Ireland joins Europe in stance against anti-LGBT+ bill The judges of the court are now beginning deliberations on the case. If the Court of Justice finds a member state has failed to fulfil obligations of EU law, the the country must comply with the Court's judgment 'without delay' or face further action like financial penalties. 'No place in the EU' Dávid Vig, director of Amnesty International Hungary, said the Advocate General's opinion 'made it clear the [anti-LGBTQ+] law has no place in Hungary and the European Union'. 'The discriminatory law violates several human rights and promotes the idea that the life of LGBTI people is not of equal value,' Vig said. In March of this year, the Hungarian parliament passed legislation that restricts freedom of assembly and consequently prohibited LGBTQ+ Pride marches . LGBTQ+ rights organisation ILGA-Europe said the today's opinion from the Advocate General should mean the anti-Pride legislation is also considered to be violating EU law. 'The AG's opinion is very clear in that Hungary breaches EU law and the Treaties by enacting the anti-LGBTI legislation from 2021,' said ILGA-Europe's advocacy director Katrin Hugendubel. 'The new package of amendments adopted this year to criminalise Pride marches and their organisers builds directly on that unlawful legislation and must therefore also be considered a violation of EU law.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Russia Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Media freedom deteriorating in EU
Media freedom is deteriorating in a number of EU countries, according to a recent report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties). The group has claimed that pluralism and freedom of speech are 'under attack' as media companies become increasingly controlled by governments and wealthy owners. In the Media Freedom 2025 report, the authors have outlined a range of pressures facing journalists and independent outlets, including legal and physical threats, declining ownership transparency, and political interference in public broadcasting. The group has warned that these factors have had a significant impact on the work of the media, limiting the diversity of opinions and the independence of publications, reducing public trust in content. Liberties has identified Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain as among the EU member states where the situation is most alarming. According to the report, public broadcasters in several of these countries are routinely manipulated by political interests, and legal protections for media workers remain weak or poorly enforced. The group also recorded at least 156 physical or verbal attacks on journalists in 2024, including cases of police intimidation and criminal defamation charges. In some states, the report notes, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are still being used to silence critical reporting, despite the EU's recent efforts to curb their abuse. Liberties also noted that Russian and Belarusian journalists working in the bloc have repeatedly faced threats and harassment and become targets of spyware, raising concerns over their safety and what effect it could be having on their work. Earlier this month, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the EU had denied its journalists accreditation for 2025, citing sanctions regulations. The outlet has appealed the decision, referencing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and earlier EU statements that had assured journalistic activity would not be restricted. The rejection follows a broader crackdown on Russian media in the EU since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The European Council has banned Russian outlets such as RT, Sputnik and RIA across the bloc. In its 16th sanctions package adopted this February, the bloc also added eight more Russian news outlets to the blacklist, including and the Zvezda TV channel. Russian officials have repeatedly condemned the bans, arguing EU officials are afraid of people seeing a viewpoint that differs from the Western mainstream narrative and drawing their own conclusions about current events.
