Activities of Marietje SCHAAKE related to 2011/2081(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Freedom of press and media in the world - Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world 2012 and the European Union's policy on the matter - Promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief
Reports (1)
REPORT on the freedom of press and media in the world PDF (323 KB) DOC (776 KB)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that indirect pressure on the press and the media can be brought by governments; considers that in many countries media rely heavily on government advertising, which then can become a tool to pressure media; and licences or tax fines can also become means to restrict the operation of critical media;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers the trend of concentrated media ownership in large conglomerates to be a threat to media freedom and pluralism, especially with digitisation occurring in parallel; stresses the importance of an open and enabling underlying media infrastructure, as also of the existence of independent regulators; acknowledges that decision making inside large conglomerates can hamper freedom of expression and as such press and media freedom in general;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognizes the potential of private foundations and NGOs supporting quality journalism and in being drivers of innovation;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises that all too often media are used as and/or involved in traditional propaganda tools and that, specifically regarding public service media, financial and political independence is essential;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recognizes the importance of free and independent public media in deepening democracy and informing and involving civil society and citizens in public debates and affairs;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that digitisation can help people to access information, scrutinize officials, that data and documents are shared and spread, that injustices or corruption are brought to light;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Stresses that to unlock the full potential of IT infrastructures, global interoperability and appropriate regulation is required; whereas these ICT elements should be incorporated in both the existing and evolving media landscape, in conjunction with basic conditions of independence, plurality and diversity;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Deplores the fact that many technologies and services used in third countries to violate human rights through censorship of information, mass surveillance, monitoring, and the tracing and tracking of citizens and their activities on (mobile) telephone networks and the internet are made in the EU; urges the Commission to take all necessary steps to stop this 'digital arms trade';
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that digital and (computer) data-driven platforms or services such as search engines and social media platforms are privately owned and require transparency so as to preserve the public value of information and prevent restrictions on access to information and freedom of expression; applauds and encourages the publication of policies and processes for information removal requests, and publicly accessible records of both requests submitted and access granted;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that for the EU to be considered as a community of values the promotion and protection of global press and media freedom are essential; stresses that the EU should demonstrate the maximum political leadership to ensure the protection of journalists globally;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that in recent years some media, notably in the EU, have come under scrutiny themselves for their unethical and allegedly illegal behaviour; considers that the EU can only lead by example if it keeps its own house in order;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Considers that complicated grant application procedures risks cutting out smaller organisations; stresses that bureaucratic burdens should be minimised;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Considers that the lack of a comprehensive strategy leads to fragmentation and risks forgoing important policy principles of transparency and accountability;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Urges the Commission, especially DG DEVCO, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Parliament to improve their cooperation and coordination of programming, particularly by synergising political and diplomatic work and through the joint implementation, including via monitoring and assessment, of funding and projects; calls on the Commission to improve its analysis and evaluation of past, existing and future programming, and to make the results public;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls for a shift from ad hoc funding of projects to a more sustainable approach, also involving private donors and interlocutors; recognises the need for a country-by-country and tailored approach to programming, both at the national and regional level;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. ConsiderStresses that existing external financial instruments, such as the EIDHR, geographical instruments and others, need to be used flexibly in order to help strengthen civil society; stresses that local ownership and capacity-building are essential to ensure sustainable development and progress;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. ConsiderStresses that the EU should educate and train policymakers, regulators and media alike in third countries, with the goal of fostering press and media freedom and appropriate and technology-neutral forms of market regulation, especially recalling that in periods of transition freedoms are often restricted in the name of stability and security;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses that media development and enabling freedom of expression should be at the heart of the EU's dialogue at country level, as well as ofimportant conditionalities in its trade and partnership agreements and aid programmes, in compliance with Article 21 TEU;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. ConsiderUrges that EU funding should not be limited to specialised international organisations (intermediaries) but should also include local organisations;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. ConsiderEmphasizes that press and media programmes should also focus on improving the (state and legal) structures and supporting local media companies and businesses, in order to improve transparency and openness; stresses that EU media policies should seek to maximize pluralism and diversity by supporting independent media and start- ups to counterbalance large media conglomerates;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Considers that in transition countries the EU should focus on press and media freedom in the context and process of reconciliation and reconstruction;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Stresses that the EU should position itself better vis-à-vis international organizations with a focus on press and media support; stresses the importance of multi-lateral cooperation with especially the UN, in which the EU has the role of donor and the UN has a monitoring function; stresses that the EU should make full use of its Member States capacity and expertise;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Applauds and welcomes the important work of a number of international (journalist) organizations dealing with press- and media freedom, stresses these should have the EU's full support, considers the organizations essential liaisons;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Commission and Council to adopt a Press and Media Freedom Strategy under EU foreign policy, as soon as possible, and to incorporate the recommendations in this report in the forthcoming Guidelines on Freedom of Expression online and offline;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Considers this report to be read and taken up in close consideration with its previous report on 'A Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy';
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 37 – subparagraph 1 (new)
ANNEX 1 - Country rankings in press and media freedom by independent organizations with the relevant expertise (To include annual rankings by the following NGOs: Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Freedom House)