Seventeen international non-governmental organisations have written to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, calling for EU action to protect journalists.

In their letter, see pdf link below, the organisations say they are "saddened and appalled" by the recent killings of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which murders they said were unacceptable.

They demanded action to ensure that police investigations are full, thorough and independent and called on the Commission to hold state officials and public figures to account for creating an environment in which the critical function of journalism was respected.

"When journalists are killed, they are silenced and the public is deprived of their stories. In the cases of Ján Kuciak and Daphne Caruana Galizia stories about corruption, organised crime and abuse of power. Stories the people have a right to know about," they said.

They urged the Commission to step up efforts to protect journalists within Europe.

"Your response to the killings of Ján Kuciak and Daphne Caruana Galizia will set a precedent for what is permissible in the European Union. A safe future for journalists in Europe is in your hands," they wrote.