The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) joined 38 other media freedom and civil society organisations on Wednesday in calling on the European Commission to strengthen its fifth annual rule of law report, which assesses media freedom in European Union member states.

With Europe due to vote from June 6 to 9, the 39 groups also called on the new European Commission to prioritize implementation of their recommendations.

“The multiple attacks on press freedom in the European Union highlighted in the latest MFRR report and in the annual report of the Council of Europe Platform must encourage European political decision-makers to put more pressure on national governments,” insists EFJ President Maja Sever. “The alarm signals are multiplying: the refusal of the French government majority to consolidate the independence of editorial offices from media owners, threats to public broadcasting in Italy and Slovakia, the multiplication of slapps without any reaction from governments, and so on. What are governments waiting for to react to these threats to democracy?”

Our main recommendations to the European Commission are:

1. Strengthen the rule of law as a key priority in the next Commission programme
2. A strong mandate for the new Commissioner for Justice
3. Better self-assessment of the rule of law effectiveness
4. Continue the annual rule of law reports and make them more contextual and detailed
5. Address continuing concerns about civic space
6. Take firm and systematic action against the non-implementation of court decisions
7. Protect freedom of expression and information and media freedom
8. Improve the visibility and awareness of the rule of law report

Signatories:

1. ACAT Belgium
2. ACAT France
3. ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy
4. ARTICLE 19
5. Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
6. Citizens Network Watchdog Poland
7. Civil Liberties Union for Europe
8. Committee to Protect Journalists
9. Community Media Forum Europe
10. Democracy Reporting International (DRI)
11. DEMAS – Association for Democracy Assistance and Human Rights
12. Demo Finland
13. Europäischer Austausch / European Exchange
14. European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
15. European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
16. European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
17. European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)
18. Fédération internationale des ACAT / International Federation of ACAT
19. Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH)
20. Free Press Unlimited
21. Human Rights and Democracy Network Internal Working Group
22. Human Rights House Foundation
23. Human Rights House Zagreb
24. Human Rights Watch
25. Hungarian Helsinki Committee
26. IFEX
27. ILGA Europe – European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
    Intersex Association
28. Initiative for Freedom of Expression – Turkey (IFOX)
29. International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
30. International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN)
31. International Press Institute (IPI)
32. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
33. Netherlands Helsinki Committee
34. Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa
35. Protection International
36. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
37. Society of Journalists
38. South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
39. WACC Europe