Responding to the detention of three journalists in Myanmar last week, the European Union urged the government to protest free speech and ensure journalists were not subject to "intimidation, arrest or prosecution".
"It constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society," the EU said in a statement.
"We therefore call on the government of Myanmar to provide the necessary legal protection for journalists to work in a free and enabling environment without fear of intimidation, arrest or prosecution."
The military attempted to justify the detention by saying the journalists had been associating with a group "currently opposing the country's rule of law using arms", reported Reuters.
The government led by Aung San Suu Kyi has been accused of crimes against humanity and even genocide by international human rights groups and UN officials over its treatment of the Rohingya population.
