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European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), representing more than 320 thousand journalists in 45 countries has elected a new steering committee today (June 14) at the general assembly held in İzmir's historical Alsancak Coal Gas Factory.
Maja Sever from Croatia has been elected as the first EFJ president, and Mustafa Kuleli, the executive director of the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS), has been elected as the vice president.
For the first time in EFJ's history, a female president and a vice president from Turkey will serve.
"It's a great honor for me. We will continue to fight for independent, strong, and professional journalism. Thanks to everyone," said Sever during her speech at the general assembly.
Mustafa Kuleli stated the following:
"We will fulfill this responsibility with even greater enthusiasm and courage in the new term on behalf of EFJ, one of the leading defenders of press freedom all over the world, who has been fighting for the rights of journalists for many years."
"In a period that journalism is facing countless threats and unique opportunities all over the world, the steps we will take as EFJ will be decisive in bringing our profession into the future."
"We will strengthen solidarity through our member unions and professional organizations; we will create a qualified, independent, and democratic media environment all over Europe and inspire the world."
In the new term, the following members were elected to the EFJ Board of Directors:
- Andrea Roth, Germany
- Anna Del Freo, Italy
- Marta Barcenilla Escano, Spain
- Pablo Aiquel, France
- Allan Boye Thulstrup, Denmark
- Martine Simonis, Belgium
- Tim Dawson, England
Solidarity with detained journalists
Also at the general assembly, the motion of DİSK Basın İş on solidarity with Kurdish journalists and the solidarity call for journalists from Turkey regarding the new disinformation bill against press freedom in Turkey was unanimously accepted.
Sendikamız tarafından EFJ (@EFJEUROPE) kongresine verilen Kürt gazetecilere yönelik saldırılar ve yeni medya yasası ile basın özgürlüğünü hedef alan adımlar karşısında Türkiyeli gazetecilerle dayanışma önergesi oy birliği ile kabul edildipic.twitter.com/wKDsnKcUg7
— DİSK Basın-İş (@Disk_Basin_is) June 14, 2022
EFJ's congress in Izmir started yesterday (June 3). In addition to the speeches and presentations at the general assembly, the "Local Media Summit" was also held in parallel with the event.
The general assembly in İzmir hosted more than 100 journalists from 45 European countries and dozens of press professional organization representatives from 50 cities of Turkey for two days. (HA/TB)
