site.btaAssociation of European Journalists Vice President Irina Nedeva Awarded French National Order of Merit

Journalist, Vice-President of the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) and President of the Bulgarian section of AEJ from 2016 to 2024 Irina Nedeva has been awarded the National Order of Merit of France by decree of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, said AEJ on Wednesday.

The award was presented at a ceremony on Tuesday by Ambassador of France Joel Meyer, paying tribute to "a courageous figure of journalism in Bulgaria and in Europe", the announcement states. The National Order of Merit aims to pay tribute to foreign personalities who have contributed to the promotion of the main causes that France supports around the world, and who have distinguished themselves with their services to France. By awarding Irina Nedeva, the French Republic recognized her remarkable and exemplary commitment to freedom of speech and the independence of the media in Bulgaria.

The honour aims to salute the decisive role of AEJ-Bulgaria in providing Bulgarian citizens with reliable and verified information, pluralistic and free in nature, respecting fundamental democratic values ​​and freedom of expression, information at the service of the transparency of public life, including through investigative journalism committed to the fight against corruption and crime, and information independent of party, political and economic interests, Meyer pointed out, quoted by AEJ.