On 26 June, the Saxon State Parliament approved its 2025/26 budget, reaffirming and strengthening its commitment to media freedoms and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF). ECPMF is pleased to see that press and media freedom remains a high priority on the political agenda. We value this ongoing support, which allows us to protect and assist journalists and media workers in Saxony, Germany, and across Europe.
After months of uncertainty, the final budget includes a renewed commitment to ECPMF. Amendments proposed by the Greens in the State Parliament were fully adopted, including a slight increase in funding for ECPMF’s work. Thanks to this decision, we can continue supporting journalists who need safety, protection, relocation, and exile support in 2025 and 2026.
We are proud that, ten years after our founding, ECPMF has developed into a significant European actor in the field of media freedom and journalist protection.
By managing Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and supporting journalists at risk of persecution and conflict, ECPMF has become the leading advocate for media freedom in Saxony.
“Especially in times of increasing attacks on journalists, ECPMF is needed as a successful competence and support centre. With it, we have an organisation here in Leipzig that is unique in Europe. To preserve democracy, we must maintain the protective mechanisms that enable independent media and free and diverse reporting, including local reporting, in Europe, Germany, and here in Saxony. ECPMF’s continued existence requires reliable funding from the Free State of Saxony. I am very pleased that we have implemented this in the state budget.” – Claudia Maicher, Media policy spokesperson at the Greens, stated in the aftermath of the decision.
Oliver Schenk, Member of European Parliament, CDU affirmed his support to ECPMF, saying: “I am delighted that the ECPMF in Leipzig will continue to receive financial support in the Free State of Saxony’s new double budget. As the only European institution in eastern Germany, the continuation of this cooperation is a strong sign of the good working relationship between the European Union and the Free State. The main funding will continue to come from European funds. I will strongly advocate for this to remain the case in the upcoming EU budget.”
The Mayor of Leipzig shared this sentiment, saying that he welcomes the decision of the Saxon State Parliament. “This is an important signal from Saxony in support of press freedom and the media hub Leipzig.” – Burkhard Jung, SPD.
In the words of our Vice Chair of the Executive Board, Rebecca Harms, this is “a good decision in the Saxon state parliament, which represents a contribution to press freedom and democracy in Europe far beyond Saxony.”
While we are grateful for the support, we also wish to emphasise that the last-minute nature of the decision placed significant strain on our operations. We sincerely hope that future funding for ECPMF’s vital work will be secured with greater reliability and planning certainty. Our commitment to defending journalists is more urgent than ever – and it will continue to be central to our mission in the years ahead.
