Advocacy, Author at European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

28 Jul

MFRR Open Letter: Dismissal and resignations at Hungary’s largest news site after EU Summit create a moment of alarming symbolism

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are profoundly concerned about the latest media freedom attacks in Hungary, which follow only days after the EU Summit, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the rule of law situation in his country.

23 Jul

MPM2020: Media in Europe face multiple threats, new Media Pluralism Monitor shows

The 2020 Media Pluralism Monitor confirms mounting harassment against journalists, media outlets face increasing economic uncertainty, as online media sphere fails to reinforce pluralism.

22 Jul

EU Summit compromise: economy first, rule of law second?

On 21 July 2020, the European Council adopted conclusions on the recovery plan and multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) asks for an efficient regime of conditionality for the allocation of EU funds to be introduced to establish an effective instrument against non-compliance with rule of law principles, including media freedom.

17 Jul

HRC44: intervención oral para la adopción del Examen Periódico Universal de España

SPAIN: ECPMF, Article19, PDLI, Access Info, la Federación de Sindicatos de Periodistas (FeSP), el Grupo de Estudios de Política Criminal (GEPC) and Universidad Complutense of Madrid were giving oral evidence on 16 July 2020 on the situation of freedom of expression in the country at the UN Periodic Review HRC44.

2 Jul

Montenegro: retrial of investigative journalist Jovo Martinović – all charges must be dropped

Retrial of Jovo Martinović continuing on 6 July - all charges must be dropped. ECPMF expresses renewed concern about situation of media freedom in Montenegro

26 Jun

Bulgarian media owner is threatened with prison term for expressing opinion

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), is concerned about the on-going legal harassment of Bulgarian media owner and businessman, Ivo Prokopiev and his media group Economedia, ahead of an expected court verdict on Sunday 28 June 2020.

25 Jun

Stop use of SLAPPs: International organisations and journalist bodies express concern about legal threats against EUobserver

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, journalist bodies, free expression and journalist support organisations are concerned about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium and call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions across Europe. Left unreformed, such legal threats will be sufficient to silence media workers and outlets. We stand in solidarity with EUobserver and will continue to monitor developments around the case.

18 Jun

Open letter ahead of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins at a difficult time, in which concerted efforts from across the social, economical and political spectrum are required. We urge Germany to proactively lead the Member States in the Council towards effective solutions that will bring about real progress and overcome challenges, to press and media freedom in Europe.

10 Jun

MFRR partners welcome the step forward by Italian Constitutional Court to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation

The organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) welcome the decision by the Italian Constitutional Court to refer a decision on whether to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation in relation to journalists and media workers to the Italian Parliament.