2022/2057(INI) The protection of journalists around the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter
Next event: Vote scheduled in committee 2023/05/24
Lead committee dossier:
Next event: Vote scheduled in committee 2023/05/24
Progress: Awaiting committee decision
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET |
WISELER-LIMA Isabel ( EPP)
|
SÁNCHEZ AMOR Nacho ( S&D),
SATOURI Mounir ( Verts/ALE),
KARSKI Karol ( ECR),
KOULOGLOU Stelios ( GUE/NGL)
|
| Committee Opinion | CULT |
WALSH Maria ( EPP)
|
Sylvie GUILLAUME ( S&D),
Irena JOVEVA ( RE),
Diana RIBA I GINER ( Verts/ALE),
Alexis GEORGOULIS ( GUE/NGL),
Elżbieta KRUK ( ECR)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
2023/05/24
Vote scheduled in committee
2022/09/02
EP - WALSH Maria (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in CULT
2022/07/07
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2021/07/14
EP - WISELER-LIMA Isabel (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
Activities
- Isabel WISELER-LIMA
Plenary Speeches (0)
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 93 |
2022/2057(INI)
2022/12/09
CULT
93 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Demands, in addition to the release of all political prisoners- journalists, the unblocking without exception of all independent media in Belarus, blocked in 2018-2022;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Is deeply concerned regarding the challenge sector-specific pathogenies that need relevantly sector-specific policy intervention, including in the online environment;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Expresses serious concern about the shrinking space for civil society organisations, and the threat to journalists, human rights defenders and others – who communicate on important matters within the public interest that are critical of powerful members of society;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Is deeply concerned regarding the challenge sector-specific pathogenies such as already deeply established networks promoting the bribery of financially-dependent journalists to drive public opinion towards desired directions, against public interests;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Believes that the EU and Member States should put in place measures aiming at ensuring news and other editorial media is based on public values and is open, democratic, sustainable and inclusive in which more women, people from racial and ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees, as well as members of LGBTIQ+ communities and people with disabilities, occupy creative and decision-making positions;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes with regret that there has been a rise in violence towards journalists and media professionals, which is increasingly happening in countries officially at peace and is creating a general sense of insecurity; deplores that 57
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes with regret that there has been a rise in violence towards journalists and media professionals, which is increasingly happening in countries officially at peace including in the European Union and is creating a general sense of insecurity; deplores that
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes with regret that there has been a rise in violence towards journalists and media professionals, which is increasingly happening in countries officially at peace and is creating a general sense of insecurity; deplores that 57 journalists have been killed in 20221 , 78 journalists are being held hostage and 478 journalists are currently imprisoned2 ; demands that all detained journalists and bloggers be released immediately; _________________ 1
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authorities or commercial entities and regardless of frontiers; deplores, however, that some governments, commercial entities and individuals in positions of power around the globe are systematically threatening this right;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that investigative journalism should be promoted as a form of civic engagement and as an act of civic virtue supported by communication, learning, education and training; deplores that journalists and whistleblowers have been subject to legal prosecution instead of legal protection when, acting in the public interest, they disclose information or report suspected misconduct, wrongdoing, fraud or illegal activity; calls on the Commission and Member States to protect whistleblowers, as whistleblowing is one of the most effective ways of uncovering corruption; whistleblowers often take on high personal risk and the absence of effective protection can discourage potential whistleblowers from reporting their concerns or suspicions for fear of unfair treatment, including retaliation, discrimination or disadvantage; protection should also extend to people facilitating the reporting, intermediaries and investigative journalists;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of David Beriain and Roberto Fraile in Burkina Faso on the 26 April 2021 are among the last of an increasing list of despicable assassinations of European journalists in Europe and abroad; notes that the OSCE reports that impunity prevails as, for example, fewer than 15 % of murders of journalists in the OSCE region are solved; calls on all European institutions and the Government of Burkina Faso to take all possible actions to end impunity and bring those responsible for their deaths to justice, recalls that accountability is a key element in preventing future attacks;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Further emphasises that non- physical violence, such as threats, harassment, surveillance, and intimidation journalists are subjected to is no less threatening to the media freedom, as it can lead to suppression of public information - either by enforcing a censorship or suppression by state authorities or private parties with power, or self-censorships when journalists wish to avoid penalties or reprisals; emphasises the need to safeguard journalists against every type of violence according to the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Strongly condemns the severe violations of the principles of the rule of law in some Member States, which are causing serious danger in relation to fundamental rights and freedoms, including media freedom; emphasises the link between deteriorating rule of law standards and violations of fundamental rights, amongst which attacks against journalists and free media, and the widespread collection of intercepted data with direct effects on silencing journalists, and calls on the Commission to use all available means to take action against these attacks;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Is concerned about the increase in hate speech, notably against independent media and journalists, civil society organisations, rights defenders, activists, whistleblowers, artists, and academics, especially those from marginalised groups including women, racialized people, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disabilities as well as others which has a significant psychological impact on those affected and creates a chilling effect and threatens freedom of expression and freedom of the press;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Notes that working conditions in the media sector are deteriorating and often journalists work in precarious conditions with regard to their contracts, salaries and social guarantees, which compromises their ability to work appropriately and thus hampers media freedom; underlines the importance of ensuring adequate working conditions for journalists and media workers, in full compliance with the requirements of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Recalls that the digital environment poses increasing risk to journalists’ safety online including ransomware attacks on news media websites, the use of spyware and coordinated smear campaigns that are run and coordinated by State or non-State actors;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 d (new) 2d. Highlights the crucial need of a safe environment for journalists to carry out their jobs; warns on the far-reaching effects of financial or political pressures on editors and journalists that can result in widespread self-censorship; in this context calls for the promotion of best practices to safeguard the editorial independence of media services including in their structural organisation and management, as well as measures to ensure the public disclosure of actual or potential conflicts of interest by any party having a stake in media service providers that may affect the provision of news and current affairs content; encourages at the same time the setting-up at national level of risk mitigation strategies to protect journalists covering protests and demonstrations;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authorities
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights that the freedom of media and media pluralism have increasingly come under threat in recent years with globalisation of media streams, and that disinformation and propaganda, as well as disproportionate actions to tackle them, are growing trends in the media landscape worldwide; notes that this trend has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war against Ukraine; stresses that the internet and social media plays a significant role in spreading hate speech and fostering radicalisation leading to violent extremism, especially far-right violent extremism; in this context, is concerned about problematic developments of the administration of social media platforms that undermine the credibility of individual journalists, notably the recent changes in verification requirements for blue checkmarks on Twitter, which have the potential to damage the reputation of legitimate journalism and hence to increase the dissemination of disinformation; believes that this situation should be considered a general threat to the values the European Union claims to stand
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights that the freedom of media and media pluralism have increasingly come under threat in recent years with the combined effects of digitalisation and related evolving revenue models, market consolidation and globalisation of media streams, and that hate speech, disinformation and propaganda are growing trends in the digital or online media landscape worldwide; notes that this trend has been
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights that the freedom of media and media pluralism have increasingly come under threat in recent years with globalisation of media streams, and that disinformation and propaganda are growing trends in the media landscape worldwide;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights that the freedom of media and media pluralism have increasingly come under threat in recent years with globalisation of media streams, and that disinformation and propaganda are growing trends in the media landscape worldwide; notes that this trend has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war against Ukraine; emphasizes that such phenomena can also have the effect of reducing trust in public institutions as well as affect legitimate media outlets and journalists; believes that this situation should be considered a general threat to the values the European Union stands for as a global actor and to democracy as a whole;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights that the freedom of media and media pluralism have increasingly come under threat in recent years with globalisation of media streams, and that disinformation and propaganda are growing trends in the media landscape worldwide; notes that this trend has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war against Ukraine; believes that this situation should be considered a general threat to the values the European Union stands for as a global actor and to democracy as a whole;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Member States to guarantee that the public service media is free from censorship and political influence; that supervisory boards are appointed by qualified non-partisan individuals that will act in the public interest and not that of any one political party or ideology; calls for funding mechanisms to support public interest media and investigative journalism that challenges corruption;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Is concerned by recent developments of wire-tapping scandals throughout the EU, such as the ones investigated by the PEGA Committee; stresses that independent journalism cannot be achieved if journalists are being targeted by their governments, using spyware such as Predator or Pegasus spyware, allegedly used in countries such as Greece;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Highlights in this regard the need to promote, support and invest in education focused on using the existing Media Information Literacy as a tool in Non-EU countries to ensure broader understanding of information received, ensure critical thinking and achieve the understanding of societal value of journalism;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Acknowledges that the recent scandal of surveillance of journalists through spying software such as Pegasus or Predator is a direct attack to independence of medias and violates the protection of sources at the basis of the profession in order to collect information freely and reliably; looks forward to the conclusion of the European Parliament’s inquiry committee and its recommendations to better protect citizens and journalists from undue and oppressive use of such software in the future.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new) Highlights that over the past years some governments have engaged in attempts to stifle dissent by attacking journalists and human rights defenders who live abroad through acts of transnational repression1a in which those governments reach across national borders to silence critical voices among diaspora and exile communities, disregarding international law, human rights and democratic values; _________________ 1a https://freedomhouse.org/report/transnati onal-repression
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the EU and the Member States to
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the EU and the Member States to re-evaluate the profound links between media freedom and democracy and identify pathways to rebuild safe spaces for information and communication with a particular focus on education for information and media literacy; notes that ensuring media freedom should be included in all EU partnerships programs with third world countries, either through the bilateral agreements of as a part of regional development partnerships;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Expresses concerns about the so called ‘news fatigue’ , a growing lack of interest in seeking information especially from younger generations and the serious effects this may have on the future functioning of our democratic systems; recalls that citizens nowadays increasingly access news and editorial content through online platforms that influence access to information; calls for more media information literacy and digital literacy in educational curricula for younger generations in order to better equip them with methods on how to access effectively information, sort sources, debunk disinformation and address online incivilities with the objective of helping them to manage ‘infodemia’ while underlining the societal value of journalism and rebuilding trust in the media; in this respect, looks forward to the Commission’s mid-term review of the Digital Education Action Plan (2012- 2027);
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Reaffirms the need to independently monitor the media freedom and pluralism situation in the EU and globally, and therefore encourages the Commission and the Member States to implement and further enhance existing instruments, such as the Media Pluralism Monitor; calls on the EU to adopt and implement a media ownership regulatory framework in order to avoid horizontal concentration of ownership in the media sector and indirect and cross-media ownership, and to guarantee transparency;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recognises the urgent need for journalists to know their rights and protection mechanisms; calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States to promote programs and policies aimed at fostering education of journalists, media actors and the general public on their rights and protection mechanisms, including but not limited to showcasing real examples and best practices;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Believes that civil society organisations play a key role in fostering media literacy and asks therefore the Commission and Member States to include them as stakeholders in initiatives dedicated to promote journalism and media literacy;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Encourages the Commission to continue and expand its programmes to support independent journalists from Belarus and media outlets broadcasting from EU countries (in the Belarusian language) to audiences in Belarus;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Draws attention to the essential role of the state media in Russia in indoctrinating the public with the language of hatred and propaganda in favour of the war of aggression against Ukraine; considers that the management and staff of these media outlets must be subject to appropriate personal sanctions;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Recognises the importance of democracy and education on media literacy; calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States to promote programs and policies aimed at fostering media and news literacy for journalists, media actors and the general public;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Calls on the Commission to promote as well online media literacy, investigating for public engaging and innovative means to this cause and under the logic of common policies intended to bridge the digital divide within and among the Member States along all its lines (wealth, gender, age, geographical and social conditions);
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that in order to improve its external governance and its credibility, the EU needs to lead by example and deliver on its domestic media policy ambitions; welcomes, in this context, the adoption of the Digital Services Act3 , and the recently published proposals for a directive against ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’ (the anti-SLAPP directive) (COM(2022)0177) and the European Media Freedom Act (COM(2022)0457), which are signs the EU is taking a more robust approach to media policies; However, a lot more needs to be done; recalls that SLAPPs are lawsuits or other legal actions based on civil, administrative and criminal law, as well as the threats of such actions, initiated by state organs, business corporations and individuals who hold power of one kind or another against weaker parties, such as journalists, and others, who express criticism or transmit uncomfortable messages to the powerful, on public matters, and as a result bring about lack of information distribution and lack of freedom of expression by the media/journalists; _________________ 3 OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1.
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that in order to improve its external governance, the EU needs to lead by example and deliver on its domestic media policy ambitions with full coherence and consistency; welcomes, in this context, the adoption of the Digital Services Act3 , and
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that media’s independence from political and economic powers and influences must be guaranteed; calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide appropriate, proportionate and stable funding for public service media, thus ensuring it can fulfil its cultural, social and educational role, and contribute to an inclusive information society, while guaranteeing its independence from governmental influences; highlights in this context the potential of the Creative Europe programme in promoting a free, diverse and pluralistic media environment by encouraging crossovers and cross-cutting activities supporting the news media sector, by providing support for new media professionals, and by enhancing the development of critical thinking among citizens by means of promoting media literacy; calls for further strengthening of these actions in the programme's next MFF cycle;
Amendment 55 #
5a. Notes with concern that most EU countries are characterised by a high degree of market concentration with monopoly or oligopoly in the broadcasting sectors, oligopolies in newspaper industries and significant competition in magazine and book publishing; also notes that these main players co-exist with a myriad of smaller news media operators focusing on local or regional news or specialised in particular topics; believes that the Commission and Member States need to increase support for the media sector and should pay special attention to local and regional media operating in small markets;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Is concerned that media organisations are increasingly relinquishing their duty of care within and beyond the EU towards journalists employed by them or those producing the content they acquire; notes the increasing use of freelancers, particularly young journalists and media workers at the start of their career, to cover high-risk areas and conflict zones; is concerned by the precarious working and decreasing safety conditions under which freelancers operate from high-risk areas and conflict zones;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Emphasises that the current context of socioeconomic instability also has an impact on the media sector, especially on small and local media outlets and calls in this regard for better protection and support mechanisms; Stresses that more measures are needed to ensure the media sector’s sustainability in the context of growing reliance on social media as a source of information, and calls to increase the level of information and know-how about the EU by the different national media;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to establish a permanent news media fund to support independent editorial coverage, safeguard the independence of European journalism, and guarantee the freedom of press and involve associated and partner countries outside the EU with a dedicated tool;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Highlights the essential role that journalists and editorial teams play to impart information, allowing the public to access reliable news, to sharpen their insights and hold opinions on issues of public interest; recalls that journalism has been considered an essential “third party” to ensure checks and balances in democratic systems while ensuring pluralistic, public and independent reporting on news ; insists in this respect that such role requires a safe environment for journalists and other media professionals to work and live;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Welcomes the launch of the European Digital Media Observatory, a platform aimed at helping fact checkers and researchers to network and at providing media practitioners, teachers and individuals with information to help them to better understand fake news;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Reiterates emphatically its repeated calls for the creation of a permanent European news media fund with a cross-border component to support critical voices in Europe, empower independent news coverage, safeguard the independence of European journalists and journalism, and guarantee the freedom of the press;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Highlights that journalists also face threats in the online environment that consequently have affect freedom of expression; calls for dedicated training and formation for journalists to equip them with digital skills necessary to tackle cybersecurity risks and online threats;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Highlights the relevance of specific support for the protection of journalists and media independence and salutes dedicated actions in the Creative Europe programme, notably to foster rapid response mechanisms to protect journalists under threat;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Suggests the development of media freedom indicators and media freedom tests, following the example of the recently developed youth indicators and youth tests;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Recalls that several international protection mechanisms and tools ensuring safety of journalists, such as European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, training for journalists, protection mechanisms of UN, namely Special Rapporteurs and Universal Periodic Review, UN treaty bodies and UNESCO exist; in that regard calls on the Commission and Member States to increase their financing for creating their more prominent presence and effectiveness in their core purpose;
Amendment 68 #
5c. Calls for higher visibility of EU funding opportunities, as well as of European media hubs and partnerships that can have a positive impact in ensuring media freedom by sharing good practices and exchanges between journalists;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 d (new) Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Highlights that the largest number of journalists in Europe have been unjustly imprisoned in Belarus, including Andrzej Poczobut, a prominent journalist and activist of the Polish minority in Belarus, who was also included on Lukashenka's 'terrorist list';
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 d (new) 5d. Reminds that a UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity have been adopted in 2012 and provides a comprehensive framework for holistic solutions for prevention of attacks, protection of journalists and prosecution of perpetrators; highlights that a High-Level Conference, held in Vienna in November 2022, to mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption called for reaffirm, recommit and reposition of the adopted action plan to increase its impact;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 e (new) Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 e (new) 5e. Calls on the Member States whom have not done so to join and actively participate in the Media Freedom Coalition, an intergovernmental partnership advocating for media freedom online and offline, and the safety of journalists;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to include suspension mechanisms in the EU’s multilateral and bilateral partnership or trade agreements; invites the Commission to support and monitor media freedom and use targeted sanctions or suspend agreements in the event of persistent and systematic violation of media freedom; calls on the Commission to make access to EU funds for media and news organisations conditional to the fulfilment of their duty of care, in particular, by complying with paragraph 16 of the Recommendations on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors from the Council of Europe;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to include suspension mechanisms in the EU’s multilateral and bilateral partnership or trade agreements; invites the Commission to support, strengthen and monitor media freedom
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to include suspension mechanisms in the EU’s multilateral and bilateral partnership or trade agreements; invites the Commission to support and monitor media freedom and use targeted sanctions or suspend agreements in the event of persistent and systematic violation of media freedom, including when these violations are taking place in the European Union;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to include suspension mechanisms in the EU’s multilateral and bilateral partnership or trade agreements;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses that it is essential to ensure and maintain the independence of private and public service media from any internal and external political interference, whether from governments, powerful interest groups or third countries; believes it is crucial therefore that any funds earmarked for the media and channelled through Member States be conditional on a process that guarantees fair and objective distribution in support of independent quality journalism and respects the rule of law;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Commission to dedicate specific support on EU wide training on safety for journalists working in Europe and abroad, as well as editors, to be developed by unions and associations; with a special focus on female and freelance journalists;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Recalls that transnational repression remains a global threat to journalists around the world and that insufficient tools exist to protect its intended targets;2b _________________ 2b Freedom House Report: Defending Democracy in Exile Understanding and Responding to Transnational Repression https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/file s/2022- 05/Complete_TransnationalRepressionRe port2022_NEW_0.pdf
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Invites the Commission to implement emergency visas for journalists at risk and engage in outreach to support journalists at risk via delegations abroad regarding in-country assistance and trial monitoring for non-EU states
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses the need to have in place independent monitoring mechanisms, including rapid response mechanisms, to assess the situation of media freedom and media pluralism in the EU;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Supports the creation for a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Safety of Journalists enabling to increase prevention and raise the costs of crimes against journalists while providing concrete and rapid help towards the defence of journalists namely getting journalists released, establishing protective measures and contributing to the administration of independent justice against perpetrators.
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Asks the Commission to proceed to investigations for a mapping of the journalism sector in the EU and around the world in order to convey already established sector-specific pathogenies;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Strongly asks the Commission to proceed to sector-specific policy interventions to address sector-specific pathogenies such as - but not limited to - deeply established networks promoting the bribery of financially-dependent journalists to drive public opinion towards desired directions, against public interests;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Recalls that the Russian disinformation campaign before and during the war on Ukraine has triggered urgent sanctions that are partially being evaded by state
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Recalls that the Russian disinformation campaign before and during the war on Ukraine has triggered urgent sanctions that are partially being evaded by state media; calls therefore for an appropriate and sustainable legal framework establishing a free information space protection mechanism based on the reciprocity of openness requirements; believes that this mechanism should be built on two pillars: 1) equal treatment – for all audio-visual outlets broadcasting on
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Underlines that safety of journalists and of journalism is as important in peacetime as in wartime; underlines however, the specific challenges that arose in the context of the war of aggression from Russia against Ukraine with the context of global disinformation campaign from Russian regime; calls the EU to keep supporting journalists fleeing censorship and state campaigns of propaganda in helping them to change territory, to continue operating from a safe place and to reinstall their independent media outside their country to continue providing freely reported and reliable information.
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Stresses that in some Member States political parties use media as vehicles to disseminate disinformation, while in others conglomerates with a large market share may exercise political interference; considers increased transparency and fact-checking obligations as remedies to counteract these practices; welcomes initiatives such as the Media Ownership Monitor and the Media Pluralism Monitor;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Member States and media organisations to guarantee that journalists can carry out their work to the highest standards by ensuring fair remuneration, good working conditions, the protection of journalistic sources, providing with quality training for both contractual and freelance media professionals
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Calls on the EU and the Member States to educate and raise awareness about the threat of transnational repression and to adopt measures to constrain the ability of states to commit acts of transnational repression, to increase accountability for perpetrators of transnational repression, and to provide protection for at-risk journalists, exiles and diasporas;3c _________________ 3c Freedom House Policy Recommendations on Transnational Repression https://freedomhouse.org/policy- recommendations/transnational- repression
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Highlights the need to strengthen codes of ethics and journalistic standards established by press and media councils and support solidarity and collaboration between journalists and media outlets to improve journalist safety;
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Strongly believes that in order to fulfil their role as watchdogs of democracy journalists should be able to enjoy decent working conditions and should be able to work safely and without threats or harassment; warns against the increasing precariousness of journalists often forced into false freelance contracts that cuts costs and undermines standards; is of the strong opinion this sector must be protected through stronger labour regulation;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 c (new) 7c. More generally, encourages EU and national policies to address causes of distress and insecurity in the journalistic profession, should it originate in reporting under dangerous conditions or in other causes including denigration or intimidation.
source: 739.696
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History
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2022-12-10Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2022-12-09Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2022-11-18Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2022-09-06Show (1) Changes
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