Romania: Super election year calls for press freedom assessment

29 May 2024

A coalition of media freedom organisations will conduct a mission to Bucharest on 17-18 June 2024 to assess key challenges amid Romania’s super election year. The mission will address political influence on media, legal threats to journalists’ work and their safety, culminating in a conversation with the press.

Romanian translation here.

In Romania, European and local elections in early June will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections in September and December respectively. In the midst of this super election year, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium will undertake a mission to Bucharest on 17-18 June 2024.

The mission will be jointly organised by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), and will be joined by partners from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

Following its online fact-finding phase involving meetings with media and civil society stakeholders, during the upcoming in-person mission, the MFRR delegation aims to meet with state authorities. The group will discuss with institutional stakeholders developments regarding a set of critical issues, highlighted in the consortium’s recent report on Romania’s media landscape.

First findings: A politically influenced, unsafe media environment

The MFRR consortium has identified the following key issues to tackle:

Media capture: The MFRR analysis identified severe political influence over Romanian media. Primarily, an opaque allocation of “media and propaganda” funds from state budgets to political parties foster a compliant and clientelist media environment. Additionally, the consortium noted with concern that the National Audiovisual Council, tasked with regulating media, is under-resourced and lacks political independence.
Legal threats: Journalists in Romania face an increasing number of vexatious lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known as SLAPPs), designed to intimidate and silence voices of dissent. Aside from draining the media’s resources, the MFRR warns about their chilling effect on journalistic freedom.
Safety concerns: The consortium has been monitoring a number of prominent cases of physical attacks, online harassment and smear campaigns targeting investigative journalists. Notable cases, such as that of investigative journalist Emilia Șercan, underscore the severity of these threats.

These topics are linked to key pieces of legislation that the European Union has recently adopted. The European Media Freedom Act aims to safeguard media independence and pluralism by tackling media capture, while the Anti-SLAPP Directive provides increased protections for journalists against vexatious lawsuits. Additionally, the European Commission adopted the Recommendation on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists in September 2021. Two years later, the Council of Europe also launched the five-year Journalists Matter campaign, aiming to promote best practices among government and media stakeholders for improved journalist safety.

Our goals: Assess and address

Particularly during elections, journalists face intense political pressure and scrutiny for potential bias. Furthermore, an overall lack of public confidence is perhaps the biggest challenge Romanian media have to face. Yet, their role as public watchdogs is crucial for a fair electoral process. For this reason, the primary objectives of the upcoming MFRR mission are to:

Evaluate the impact of political interference and media capture on journalistic independence, including an evaluation of the effectiveness and independence of media regulatory bodies.
Investigate the prevalence and impact of SLAPPs and other forms of legal threats on Romanian journalists.
Address the safety and protection concerns of journalists facing threats and harassment.
Explore solutions, in dialogue and cooperation with relevant authorities, to support and sustain independent and local journalism in Romania.

Engagement and advocacy

The MFRR delegation will organise a conversation with the press on June 18, 2024, at 2PM in Bucharest, to present its initial observations and recommendations. An additional press release will be produced shortly after, in order to further detail the mission’s findings.

Press registration and contacts

Registration for the press event is open until June 17 at 12.00PM. To join the conversation, please fill out the registration form. To request a meeting with the delegation at a different time, and for more information about the mission, please contact us (stating your full name and media):

Beatrice Chioccioli

Advocacy Officer Europe
International Press Institute (IPI)
bchioccioli@ipi.media

+43 681 103 433 67

Sielke Beata Kelner, PhD

Researcher & Advocacy Officer

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

kelner@balcanicaucaso.org

This mission is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism tracking, monitoring, and responding to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

România: Anul super electoral impune o evaluare a libertății presei

Misiunea viitoare a consorțiului european pentru libertatea presei va evalua principalele provocări ale presei din România.

O coaliție de organizații pentru libertatea presei va efectua o misiune la București în perioada 17-18 iunie 2024 pentru a evalua principalele provocări în contextul anului super electoral din România. Misiunea va aborda influența politică asupra mass-mediei, amenințările legale la adresa activității jurnaliștilor și a siguranței acestora. O conversație cu presa va încheia activitățile coaliției.

În România, alegerile europene și locale de la începutul lunii iunie vor fi urmate de alegeri prezidențiale și parlamentare în septembrie și, respectiv, decembrie. În mijlocul acestui an super electoral, consorțiul Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) va întreprinde o misiune la București în perioada 17-18 iunie 2024.

Misiunea va fi organizată în comun de către International Press Institute (IPI) și Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), și va fi însoțită de parteneri de la European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) și Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

Misiunea delegației MFRR – precedată de o documentare online, care a inclus întâlniri cu mass-media și cu parteneri din societatea civilă – urmărește acum să se întâlnească cu autoritățile statului.. Grupul va discuta cu părțile interesate un set de aspecte critice, evidențiate în raportul recent al consorțiului privind peisajul mediatic din România.

Primele constatări: Un mediu mediatic incert și influențat politic

Consorțiul MFRR a identificat următoarele aspecte cheie care vor fi abordate pe parcursul misiunii :

Mass-media capturată politic: Analiza MFRR a identificat o influență politică severă asupra mass-mediei românești. În primul rând, o alocare opacă a fondurilor pentru „presă și propagandă” de la bugetul de stat către partidele politice favorizează un mediu jurnalistic conformist și clientelar. Mai mult, consorțiul a observat cu îngrijorare că Consiliul Național al Audiovizualului, care are sarcina de a reglementa mass-media, este lipsit de resurse și de independență politică.

Amenințări juridice: Jurnaliștii din România se confruntă cu un număr din ce în ce mai mare de procese vexatorii (procese strategice împotriva participării publice, cunoscute sub numele de SLAPP), menite să intimideze și să reducă la tăcere vocile disidente. Pe lângă faptul că astfel de procese epuizează resursele organizațiilor de presă, MFRR avertizează asupra efectului lor descurajator asupra libertății jurnalistice.
Preocupări legate de siguranță: Consorțiul a monitorizat o serie de cazuri proeminente de atacuri fizice, hărțuire online și campanii de defăimare care au vizat jurnaliștii de investigație. Cazuri notabile, precum cel al jurnalistei de investigație Emilia Șercan, subliniază gravitatea acestor amenințări.

Aceste subiecte sunt legate de acte legislative cheie pe care Uniunea Europeană le-a adoptat recent. Legea europeană privind libertatea mass-mediei are ca scop protejarea independenței și pluralismului presei prin abordarea capturării mass-media, în timp ce Directiva anti SLAPP oferă o protecție sporită pentru jurnaliști împotriva proceselor vexatorii.

În septembrie 2021, Comisia Europeană a adoptat o Recomandare privind protecția, siguranța și capacitarea jurnaliștilor. Doi ani mai târziu, Consiliul Europei a lansat, de asemenea, campania de cinci ani Journalists Matter, care vizează promovarea celor mai bune practici în rândul guvernelor și al părților interesate din domeniul mass-media pentru îmbunătățirea siguranței jurnaliștilor.

Obiectivele noastre: Să evaluăm și să răspundem la probleme

În special în timpul alegerilor, jurnaliștii se confruntă cu o presiune politică intensă și cu o examinare amănunțită a imparțialității presei. Mai mult, lipsa generală de încredere a publicului este poate cea mai mare provocare cu care se confruntă mass-media din România. Cu toate acestea, rolul lor de avertizori publici este esențial pentru un proces electoral corect. Din acest motiv, obiectivele principale ale viitoarei misiuni MFRR sunt următoarele:

Să evalueze impactul interferențelor politice și al capturii mediatice asupra independenței jurnalistice, inclusiv să evalueze eficiența și independența organismelor de reglementare a mass-media.
Să investigheze prevalența și impactul SLAPPs și a altor forme de amenințări legale asupra jurnaliștilor români.
Să abordeze preocupările legate de siguranța și protecția jurnaliștilor, care se confruntă cu amenințări și hărțuiri.
Să exploreze soluții, în dialog și cooperare cu autoritățile relevante, pentru a sprijini și susține jurnalismul independent din România.

Implicare și advocacy

Delegația MFRR va organiza o dezbatere cu presa pe 18 iunie 2024, la ora 14:00, la București, pentru a prezenta observațiile și recomandările sale inițiale. Un comunicat de presă va fi publicat la scurt timp după aceea, pentru a detalia în continuare concluziile misiunii.

Informații pentru presă

Înregistrarea la evenimentul de presă este deschisă până la 17 iunie, ora 24.00. Pentru a participa la dezbatere, vă rugăm să completați formularul de înregistrare.

Pentru a solicita o întâlnire cu delegația la o altă oră și pentru mai multe informații despre misiune, vă rugăm să ne contactați (menționând numele și prenumele dvs. și numele instituției mass-media pe care o reprezentați):

Beatrice Chioccioli

Ofițer de advocacy pentru Europa

International Press Institute (IPI)

bchioccioli@ipi.media

+43 681 103 433 67

Sielke Beata Kelner, PhD

Cercetător și ofițer de advocacy

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

kelner@balcanicaucaso.org

Această misiune este parte a MFRR (Media Freedom Rapid Response), un mecanism la nivel european de urmărire, monitorizare și răspuns la încălcările libertății presei și a mass-media în statele membre ale UE și în țările candidate. Proiectul este cofinanțat de Comisia Europeană.

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Italy: Media freedom coalition sounds the alarm on political…

Media Freedom coalition sounds the alarm on political meddling and legal threats to journalism

Amid the forthcoming EU elections, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) was prompted to organise an urgent advocacy mission to Italy on May 16-17 to address some recent developments related to press and media freedom. Such concerns included unprecedented political interference in the public service media, legal harassment of dissenting journalists by government members, and the potential acquisition of AGI news agency by MP Antonio Angelucci.

Available in Italian here.

Italy’s current state of media freedom raises significant concerns. The worrying trend of political interference and legal harassment undermines democratic principles and threatens the independence and pluralism essential for a free press.

During its visit to Rome, the MFRR delegation met with officials of several institutional bodies, such as:

Senator Barbara Floridia, President of the Parliamentary Committee for the general direction and supervision of radio and TV broadcasting in the Chamber of Deputies;
Senator Ilaria Cucchi, Deputy Chairwoman of the Justice Committee of the Senate of the Republic;
Giacomo Lasorella, President of the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) alongside AGCOM board members;
MP Valentina Grippo, member of the Italian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
Dr Pierluigi Mazzella, Italian Government representative at the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) of the Council of Europe;
Members of the Permanent Representation in Italy of the European Commission.

The MFRR delegation also met with several journalists from various media outlets, trade unions, and representatives of civil society organisations to analyse the state of play of media freedom in the country, joining the Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (USiGRai) sit-in dedicated to press freedom in front of RAI headquarters.

Most regretfully, the mission did not have the opportunity to meet anyone from the ruling coalition, as all the requests for a meeting were either declined or ignored.

Political interference in public media

Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), the Italian public service broadcaster, is currently subjected to an unprecedented degree of political interference that risks leading to a potential full state control. Although a certain politicisation of RAI is not a new phenomenon, discussions with journalists from RAI confirmed the unprecedented level of pressure and self-censorship.

The delegation welcomed Senator Barbara Floridia’s initiative promoting a national convention (“Stati Generali”) composed of all political parties, independent media experts, and other stakeholders, directed at reforming public media’s governance and funding in line with the European Media Freedom Act.

Failure to decriminalise defamation and reform defamation civil code provisions

Journalists, particularly investigative ones exposing wrongdoings by politicians and publishing information of public interest, face an increasing number of vexatious lawsuits often led by members of the current government, including the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni

Instead of joining the European trend towards decriminalising defamation and bringing it under civil law, and starting to transpose the EU’s anti-SLAPP Directive, the Italian government chooses to go in the opposite direction. The Balboni Bill, which was proposed by the ruling coalition to reform defamation, not only fails to decriminalise defamation and to consider a comprehensive reform under the remit of the civil law. If approved, the provisions of the Balboni Bill risk compressing the space of editorial independence even further and exerting a heavier chilling effect on the journalistic community.

Potential acquisition of AGI news agency

The potential acquisition of one of the country’s leading news agencies, AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italiana), by MP Antonio Angelucci – who already controls several major newspapers – poses a significant risk to AGI’s editorial independence.

If it comes to fruition, the buyout would be in contrast with Article 6 of the European Media Freedom Act, stating that editorial managers must be free to make decisions without interference and that anyone with significant interests in media service providers must declare any conflicts of interest. Moreover, it could set a dangerous precedent that could put other news agencies in the country at risk.

Recommendations

We call on the Italian parliament together with independent experts, the journalists representative organisations, such as the Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI) and the Italian Chamber of Journalists (Ordine dei Giornalisti), in consultation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to initiate a comprehensive reform of the legislation regulating Italian public broadcasters in line with Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act;
We urge the Italian Parliament to implement a comprehensive reform of defamation laws, aligning them with EU and international freedom of expression standards;
If any acquisition bid for the news agency AGI concretises, regulators AGCOM and AGCM (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) should conduct a thorough and transparent evaluation and consider the impact on media pluralism, editorial independence, and conflict of interest, in accordance with the European Media Freedom Act.

MFRR Next steps

In the coming weeks, the MFRR will continue to closely monitor developments in the country in collaboration with local partners, and will reiterate the request for online meetings with representatives of the Italian ruling coalition. The final report outlining the key findings with a list of recommendations geared at the Italian government, but also the European Commission will be released in the coming months. The consortium experts are ready to offer their expertise to promote the independence of public media and press freedom in Italy.

La coalizione per la libertà dei media lancia l’allarme su interferenze politiche e minacce legali che colpiscono il giornalismo italiano

In vista delle prossime elezioni europee, il Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) è stato spinto a organizzare una missione di advocacy urgente in Italia il 16-17 maggio per affrontare alcuni sviluppi preoccupanti relativi alla libertà di stampa e dei media. Tra le questioni affrontate dal consorzio europeo figurano interferenze politiche senza precedenti nei media del servizio pubblico, minacce legali da parte di membri del governo nei confronti di giornalisti critici del potere, e la possibile acquisizione dell’agenzia di stampa AGI da parte del deputato Antonio Angelucci.

L’attuale stato della libertà dei media in Italia solleva numerosi timori. La preoccupante tendenza alle ingerenze politiche e alle molestie legali mina i principi democratici e minaccia l’indipendenza e il pluralismo essenziali per una stampa libera.

Durante la visita a Roma, la delegazione MFRR ha incontrato funzionari di diversi organi istituzionali, tra cui:

La senatrice Barbara Floridia, Presidente della Commissione parlamentare per l’indirizzo generale e la vigilanza dei servizi radiotelevisivi;
La senatrice Ilaria Cucchi, Vicepresidente della Commissione Giustizia del Senato della Repubblica;
Giacomo Lasorella, Presidente dell’Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) insieme ai membri del consiglio AGCOM;
La Deputata Valentina Grippo, membro della delegazione italiana all’Assemblea parlamentare del Consiglio d’Europa;
Il dottor Pierluigi Mazzella, Rappresentante del governo italiano presso il Comitato Direttivo sui Media e la Società dell’Informazione (CDMSI) del Consiglio d’Europa;
Membri della Rappresentanza Permanente in Italia della Commissione Europea.

La delegazione MFRR ha incontrato diversi giornalisti di varie testate, sindacati e rappresentanti di organizzazioni della società civile per analizzare la situazione della libertà dei media nel paese, prendendo parte al sit-in dedicato alla libertà di stampa davanti alla sede della RAI ed organizzato dall’Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (USiGRai).

Con grande rammarico, la missione non ha avuto l’opportunità di incontrare nessun esponente della coalizione di governo, poiché tutte le richieste di incontro sono state rifiutate o ignorate.

Ingerenze politiche nei media pubblici

La Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), il servizio pubblico radiotelevisivo italiano, è attualmente soggetta a un grado di ingerenza politica senza precedenti che rischia di portare ad un completo controllo da parte del governo in carica. Sebbene una certa politicizzazione del servizio pubblico non sia un fenomeno nuovo, le discussioni con alcuni giornalisti della RAI hanno confermato un livello di pressione e autocensura senza precedenti.

La delegazione ha accolto con favore l’iniziativa della senatrice Barbara Floridia di promuovere una convenzione nazionale (“Stati Generali”) composta da tutti i partiti politici, esperti mediatici indipendenti e altri stakeholder, volta a riformare la governance e il finanziamento dei media pubblici in linea con lo il Regolamento europeo sulla libertà dei media.

Mancata depenalizzazione della diffamazione e riforma delle disposizioni del codice civile sulla diffamazione

I giornalisti, in particolare quelli investigativi che denunciano illeciti da parte di politici e pubblicano informazioni di interesse pubblico, devono fronteggiare un numero crescente di azioni temerarie spesso avviate da membri dell’attuale governo, compresa la Presidente del Consiglio, Giorgia Meloni.

Invece di aderire alla tendenza europea diretta alla depenalizzazione della diffamazione, di procedere con una riforma del codice civile, e di iniziare a recepire la direttiva anti-SLAPP dell’UE, il governo italiano sceglie di andare nella direzione opposta. Il DDL Balboni, proposto dalla coalizione di governo per riformare la diffamazione, non solo non depenalizza la diffamazione e non avvia una riforma completa nell’ambito del diritto civile: se approvato, le disposizioni del DDL Balboni rischiano di comprimere ulteriormente lo spazio dell’indipendenza editoriale e di esercitare un grave effetto inibitorio sulla comunità giornalistica.

Possibile acquisizione dell’agenzia di stampa AGI

La possibile acquisizione di AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italiana), da parte del deputato Antonio Angelucci – già proprietario di diversi importanti quotidiani – pone un serio rischio per l’indipendenza editoriale di una delle principali agenzie di stampa del paese.

Se si concretizzasse, l’acquisizione sarebbe in contrasto con l’articolo 6 del Regolamento europeo sulla libertà dei media, il quale stabilisce che i responsabili editoriali devono essere liberi di prendere decisioni senza interferenze e che chiunque abbia interessi in fornitori di servizi di media deve dichiarare eventuali conflitti di interesse. Tale acquisizione potrebbe inoltre creare un pericoloso precedente che rischierebbe di impattare altre agenzie di stampa nel paese e rappresenterebbe un ulteriore peggioramento dell’annoso problema della concentrazione dei media in Italia.

Raccomandazioni

Invitiamo il Parlamento italiano, affiancato da esperti indipendenti, dalle associazioni di categoria, tra cui la Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (FNSI) e l’Ordine dei Giornalisti (OdG), in collaborazione con con l’Unione Europea di Radiodiffusione (EBU) ad avviare una riforma completa della legislazione che regola i servizi radiotelevisivi pubblici italiani in linea con l’articolo 5 del Regolamento europeo sulla libertà dei media;
Esortiamo il Parlamento italiano a implementare una riforma completa delle leggi sulla diffamazione, in linea con gli standard UE e internazionali sulla libertà di espressione;
Se si concretizzasse una proposta di acquisizione dell’agenzia di stampa AGI, i regolatori AGCOM e AGCM (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) dovrebbero condurre una valutazione approfondita e trasparente diretta a considerare l’impatto sul pluralismo dei media, l’indipendenza editoriale e il conflitto di interessi, in conformità con il Regolamento europeo sulla libertà dei media.

Prossimi passi della rete MFRR

Nelle prossime settimane, il consorzio MFRR, in collaborazione con i partner locali, continuerà a monitorare gli sviluppi nel paese e rinnoverà la richiesta di incontro online con i rappresentanti della coalizione di governo italiana. I risultati della missione saranno presentati nei prossimi mesi in un rapporto accompagnato da una serie di raccomandazioni rivolte al governo italiano e alla Commissione Europea. Gli esperti del consorzio sono inoltre pronti a mettere a disposizione la propria competenza per promuovere l’indipendenza dei media pubblici e la libertà di stampa in Italia.

La delegazione MFRR era composta da rappresentanti di ARTICLE 19 Europe, dell’European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), della European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), dell’International Press Institute (IPI) e di OBC Transeuropa (OBCT).

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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MFRR to conduct a mission to Italy amid worsening…

MFRR to conduct a mission to Italy amid worsening state of media freedom in the country

The growing pressure on press freedom in Italy has prompted the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium to organise an urgent mission to Rome on May 16 and 17. The unprecedented political interference in the public service media, the increasing cases of vexatious lawsuits against journalists, and the possible sale of the AGI news agency will be the focus of the two-day visit. Meetings will be held with institutional stakeholders, journalists, trade unions and civil society.

Available in Italian here.

In light of the recent legislative developments on media freedom at the EU level, in particular the adoption of the anti-SLAPP Directive and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), this mission aims at analysing the dramatic backlash on media freedom standards, drawing the attention of Italian and European policymakers to the violations against the EU legislative framework.

Following up on the findings of the 2022 MFRR fact-finding mission to Italy, during the two-day visit to Rome on 16 and 17 May, the MFRR delegation will focus on three priority topics: the increasing political pressure on the public broadcaster RAI, the conflict of interest around the selling of the public news agency AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italia), and the ongoing reform of criminal defamation laws, in the framework of the increasing number of vexatious lawsuits that journalists face in Italy, often initiated by members of the government.

The mission will be led by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), and will be joined by Article 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), and the International Press Institute (IPI).

The MFRR delegation has requested meetings with the Ministry of Justice, the Justice Commission at the Senate of the Republic, the Parliamentary Commission for the general direction and supervision of radio and television services, and to the Authority for the Telecommunications AGCOM. The delegation will also meet with Members of the Parliament who have taken part in parliamentary discussions concerning press freedom in Italy.

The delegation will meet the representatives of local mission partners – Amnesty International Italia, Articolo 21, Consiglio Nazionale Ordine dei Giornalisti (CNOG), Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (USiGRai), as well as journalists and other relevant stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on the current condition of the Italian media.

The delegation will hold a press conference on May 17 at 11:00 at the premises of Consiglio Nazionale Ordine dei Giornalisti (sala Ocera, via Sommacampagna, 19, Rome) to present initial observations and recommendations from the mission. A detailed mission report will be published in the forthcoming weeks.

The MFRR consortium reiterates its long-standing commitment to improving press freedom in the country, in the wake of the recent developments and political pressure affecting press and media freedom in Italy.

Signed by:

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
International Press Institute (IPI)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
ARTICLE 19 Europe
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Libertà di stampa in Italia: il consorzio europeo MFRR in missione a Roma

La crescente pressione sulla libertà di stampa in Italia ha spinto il consorzio Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) a organizzare una missione urgente a Roma il 16 e 17 maggio. L’interferenza politica senza precedenti nei media del servizio pubblico, i crescenti casi di cause vessatorie contro i giornalisti e la possibile vendita dell’agenzia di stampa AGI saranno al centro della visita di due giorni. Sono previsti incontri con interlocutori istituzionali, giornalisti, sindacati e società civile

Alla luce dei recenti sviluppi legislativi sulla libertà di stampa e dei media a livello europeo, in particolare l’adozione della direttiva anti-SLAPP e della Legge Europea sulla Libertà dei Media (EMFA), questa missione si propone di analizzare il serio peggioramento degli standard per la libertà dei media nel paese, richiamando l’attenzione dei politici italiani ed europei sulle violazioni del quadro legislativo europeo.

Dando seguito alla precedente visita in Italia del 2022, durante i due giorni a Roma, il 16 e 17 maggio, la delegazione MFRR si concentrerà su tre temi prioritari: la crescente pressione politica sull’emittente pubblica RAI, la vendita dell’agenzia di stampa pubblica AGI e la riforma delle leggi penali sulla diffamazione, alla luce del crescente numero di cause vessatorie che i giornalisti devono affrontare in Italia.

La missione sarà guidata dalla Federazione dei Giornalisti europei (EFJ) e da Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), cui si uniranno Article 19 Europe, lo European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) e l’International Press Institute (IPI).

La delegazione MFRR ha richiesto incontri con rappresentanti del Ministero della Giustizia, della Commissione Giustizia del Senato della Repubblica, della Commissione parlamentare per l’indirizzo generale e la vigilanza dei servizi radiotelevisivi e dell’Autorità per le Telecomunicazioni AGCOM. La delegazione incontrerà anche i parlamentari che hanno partecipato alle discussioni sulla libertà di stampa in Italia.

La delegazione europea incontrerà inoltre i rappresentanti di cinque partner locali – Amnesty International Italia, Articolo 21, Consiglio Nazionale Ordine dei Giornalisti (CNOG), Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (USiGRai), nonché giornalisti e altri soggetti interessati per avviare un dialogo sulla condizione attuale dei media italiani.

Venerdì 17 maggio, La delegazione terrà una conferenza stampa il 17 maggio alle ore 11:00 presso la sede del Consiglio dell’Ordine dei Giornalisti a Roma (sala Ocera, via Sommacampagna 19) per presentare le prime osservazioni e raccomandazioni della missione. Un rapporto dettagliato della missione sarà pubblicato nelle settimane a venire.

Il consorzio MFRR ribadisce il suo impegno di lunga data per migliorare la libertà di stampa nel Paese, sulla scia dei recenti sviluppi e delle pressioni politiche che hanno colpito la libertà di stampa e dei media in Italia.

Firmato:

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

International Press Institute (IPI)

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

ARTICLE 19 Europe

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

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Mission Report: Media Freedom in Romania Ahead of Super…

Mission Report: Media Freedom in Romania Ahead of Super Election Year

Amidst Romania’s super election year, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners unveil their latest mission report, delving into the pressing issues surrounding media freedom in the country. To engage on this crucial topic, join our webinar today, 4 April, at 2 PM CET.

Romania faces a year of intense political campaigning as the country organises European and local elections in June, presidential elections in September and parliamentary elections in December.

It is during elections that journalists face their greatest test. They must resist political pressure to report on political leaders, their programmes and their records in office to ensure the public can make informed decisions. They will come under the most intense scrutiny for signs of bias and the greatest pressure to exercise bias. Their ability to successfully exercise the journalistic mission will be crucial for ensuring free and fair elections.

Against this backdrop, the report offers a comprehensive examination of Romania’s media landscape through the lenses of media capture, legal obstacles, and journalists’ safety. It exposes the pervasive influence of political funds on media, advocating for strict limits on expenditure and the implementation of EU regulations on political advertising. Furthermore, it sheds light on the alarming trend of vexatious lawsuits targeting journalists, and the rising tide of online harassment facing them and their sources.

This report, produced by MFRR partners, underscores our collective commitment to defending press freedom and fostering an independent media ecosystem during a super electoral year, in Romania and beyond.

To engage with these crucial issues, the MFRR coalition partners will host a webinar on 4 April at 2 PM CET, providing a platform for stakeholders to delve into the findings and recommendations. Journalists, policymakers, civil society actors, and concerned citizens are encouraged to join this dialogue on media freedom in Romania.

Read the full report

This mission report was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.

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Mission Report: Stemming the Tide of Greek Media Freedom…

Mission Report: Stemming the Tide of Greek Media Freedom Decline

Today the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), together with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), launch the report of a recent press freedom fact-finding mission to Greece.

Media freedom in Greece has experienced a clear period of deterioration in the last few years. In 2022 and 2023, the country ranked as the worst for media freedom in the European Union in the World Press Freedom Index. International press freedom groups have increasingly been warning about the most serious factors contributing to this decline, from the murder of a reporter and threats to journalists to spyware scandal and underlying issues regarding media pluralism and independent journalism. This erosion of media freedoms and the increasing attention of domestic and international media organisations sparked concern in Brussels and beyond and led to a number of initiatives from the Greek government led by the ruling New Democracy party to address the issue.

In this context, the partner organisations of the MFRR consortium, joined by Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, coordinated a mission to Greece in the wake of the 2023 election victory of New Democracy to take stock of the latest developments and assess the current state of media freedom and independent journalism.

This report provides a detailed analysis of the most serious challenges facing media freedom in Greece, exploring the four major systemic themes identified by the delegation. It also provides an assessment of the impact of different measures taken by the government in the last few years to try and address these issues, and offers the first international assessment of the work of the government’s Task Force for the safety of journalists, which was established in 2022 after a recommendation by the European Commission. The report also provides multiple detailed recommendations in each of the chapters to both the Greek government and journalists and media workers for steps that can be taken to achieve progress and further stem the tide of media freedom decline in the country.

Download the report

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Romania: MFRR to conduct media freedom mission ahead of…

Romania: MFRR to conduct media freedom mission ahead of super electoral year

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will conduct a mission to Romania to take the pulse of the current state of press freedom and independent journalism as the country gears up for a super electoral year in 2024.

The mission will consist of two parts: an initial online fact-finding element involving meetings with media, journalists and civil society stakeholders, followed by an in-person visit to Bucharest later in the year to meet with political leaders and state authorities.

The initial element of the mission will take place over the week of 22-25 January and will hear insights from a wide range of stakeholders from across the media sector, including print, online, radio and television media outlets.

It will also meet with media owners, representatives from media regulatory bodies and intends to meet with the public broadcaster, as well as representatives from investigative reporting platforms and minority-language media.

The findings and conclusions from this first stage will be used to produce a report setting out the main challenges facing the media and journalists in Romania, and to prepare recommendations that can be discussed during the follow-up visit, which will be more focused on advocacy and meeting political power holders.

Key themes will include the safety of journalists, smear campaigns and vexatious lawsuits against media outlets and media professionals. Other systemic issues to be scrutinised include forms of media capture including, political pressure on media via advertising, pressures on editorial independence by media ownership interests, and the influence of the country’s powerful gambling industry on independent reporting.

The MFRR mission will be held at the start of the super electoral year in Romania, which is likely to see increasing pressures on free and independent journalism as news consumption increases amidst increased democratic debate and political messaging. The country will have four elections, including the presidential election.

The mission will be jointly organised by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBC Transeuropa). It will be joined by ARTICLE 19 Europe, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

The mission is conducted as part of the MFRR’s advocacy work, which includes tracking, monitoring and reacting to violations of press and media freedom in EU member states and candidate countries, as well as conducting fact-finding missions to countries across the bloc and reporting findings to international institutions.

This mission is coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Media freedom in survival mode

Following a press freedom mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 22-25 October 2023, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn that media freedom in the country is in decline against a backdrop of new restrictive laws, hostile rhetoric and denigration of journalists by public officials, and ongoing systemic challenges to the independence of public service media.

While the country had long experienced a stagnation in its progress for freedom of the media and freedom of expression, the situation has seen an overall decline, even as the country was granted candidate status for accession to the European Union in December 2022. The MFRR organisations express their greatest solidarity with the journalists and media outlets who are working in a suffocating environment and poor working conditions.

During the three-day mission, the delegation met with a number of political and media stakeholders both in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska (RS), and in Sarajevo. We regret that RS President Milorad Dodik did not respond to our requests for a meeting.

Package of restrictive laws

The delegation closely examined the package of restrictive laws that have been passed or are currently in development or discussions in RS, where entity president Dodik is steadily tightening the screws on independent media and civil society organisations.

Firstly, the recent recriminalisation of defamation, passed by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in July 2023, made defamation a criminal offence with penalties including fines equivalent to 3,000 euros. While this legislation is modelled on similar problematic laws from around Europe, its impact in RS is exacerbated by broader lack of independence of the judiciary and prosecutors. Although the final text of the law was an improvement on the initial draft, the end result remains in violation of international human rights standards. The delegation welcomes the commitment given by the President of the RS National Assembly to conduct a review of the law one year after its passing to assess its impact on journalists. Our organisations are ready to contribute to such an assessment in partnership with local journalist associations.

A second so-called “foreign agent” law has passed the first vote within the National Assembly. If ultimately adopted, the legislation would require nonprofit organisations funded from abroad and active in the Bosnian Serb entity to register and report on their work. Media NGOs, which enjoy greater independence under this status, are targeted by this legislation, which is designed to stigmatise and further burden them with financial and administrative reporting.

The delegation was informed of a third legal initiative to develop a new media law in RS, that is being conducted in a non-transparent process with no proper structure or appointment procedure for the working group, posing questions over its legitimacy. Information passed to the delegation suggests this law would in particular restrict media outlets from registering as NGOs.

This package of interlinked legislation is aimed at further stifling the space for critical reporting and is contributing to a wider atmosphere of pressure and isolation amongst the journalistic community in Republika Srpska. When viewed together, the laws pose an existential threat to the future of independent journalism in RS.

At the Sarajevo canton level meanwhile, a new draft law ‘on Public Order and Peace’ would empower the police to sanction anyone spreading “fake news” including online. This law expands the definition of a public place to the internet. We urge the authorities to withdraw this dangerous piece of legislation, which includes vague definitions which would leave the door wide open to abuses and seriously undermine freedom of expression.

Safety of journalists

Regarding the safety of journalists, the mission met with several journalists who have been attacked because of their work, in both Banja Luka and Sarajevo. Many of the investigations into these attacks have still not been completed, mirroring a wider trend. According to the BH Journalists Association, only 25% of the cases involving journalists in the whole BH have been investigated and the rate of prosecutions remains problematic.

While physical attacks are relatively rare, verbal attacks and insults directed towards journalists by prominent politicians remain a concern. This hostility and harsh rhetoric against journalists sends a signal to the public that journalists are legitimate targets of violence and scapegoats.

The Free Media Help Line of the BH Journalists Association has had a positive impact, and the establishment of contact points within all police and prosecutors offices is a welcome step forward that was finalised by the efforts of the EU Delegation and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, ultimately there is a continued lack of systematic and integrated institutional follow-up for all cases. The establishment of a standing working group for the safety of journalists is the next step for creating an integrated institutional response, and we welcome the commitment of the Main Prosecutor in Canton Sarajevo to participate in such a body.

Regulatory framework and public service media

The public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), remains locked in a period of perennial crisis due to the blocked access to legally mandated lice fee funding and the lack of a sustainable funding model, undermining its institutional stability and independence.

The independence of the national Communication Regulatory Agency continues to be undermined by the politicised appointments of its director and the non-appointment of its management council. The selective approach of regulatory actions by the Agency have raised concerns, though these problematic decisions remain rare.

The legal framework for freedom of access to information has been weakened due to recent legislative changes, providing public authorities more opportunities to deny the release of data, adding onerous new hurdles for journalists, and undermining transparency. Overall the media market remains highly fragmented and real media pluralism is weak.

The crucial role of international community

Journalists and civil society organisations representatives that we met during the past two days expect more from the international community. The mission heard repeated concerns that in the process of ticking boxes for the progress of the country towards accession to the EU, media freedom risks being overlooked for considerations such as stability and security.

Given the fears that the situation in Republika Srpska will spill over the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we urge international organisations to unify positions, use their diplomatic leverage to defend media freedom in the whole country and always stand in solidarity with journalists and media outlets. We call on the EU delegation to make media freedom and freedom of expression a high priority in the accession negotiations.

The delegation was composed of ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI), the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), as well as South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and was supported by the journalists’ association BH Novinari.

A full report including detailed findings and recommendations will be published in the coming weeks.

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MFRR partners to carry out media freedom mission to…

MFRR partners to carry out media freedom mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will travel to Banja Luka and Sarajevo from 22 to 25 October 2023 to assess the current state of play for media freedom in the country and start a dialogue with the authorities, less than a year after the European Union decided to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status.

The delegation will consist of representatives of the MFRR partners, including ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). A representative of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) will also join the mission, as well as our local partner, the journalists’ association BH Novinari.

During the visit, the delegation will meet media professionals, officials, international organisations, civil society organisations and lawyers. The mission will focus on the worrying legislations discussed or adopted recently: in Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding the recriminalisation of defamation; the draft law on Public Order and Peace in the Sarajevo Canton; and the law on Freedom of Access to Information in the Federation. The safety of journalists, the verbal attacks from public officials and the lack of investigation into some cases will also be addressed with the authorities.

On 25 October, the delegation will hold a press conference in Sarajevo to present preliminary findings and recommendations. A detailed mission report will be published later in autumn.

This mission is coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.

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Report Launch – Relocation of Journalists in Distress in…

Relocation of Journalists in Distress in the European Union

Today, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) launch their report “Relocation of journalists in distress in the European Union: Emergency visa mechanisms in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland.”

Uncovering the truth is dangerous and can put journalists and media workers at serious risk. When a journalist finds him- or herself in danger because someone wants to keep the public in the dark, a situation can occur where the only way to safety is to seek refuge in another country. However, restrictive asylum and visa policies all too often hamper the pathways to international protection.

In this light, the latest MFRR report aims to contribute to a better understanding of six pioneering relocation mechanisms for journalists in distress within the European Union. It reflects the learnings of a thematic fact-finding mission organised in May and June 2023 by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) as part of the MFRR. The report examines existing schemes in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland, revealing salient differences and similarities in the scope and features of the responses.

Read the report

This report was coordinated by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.

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Media freedom at a crossroads: Journalism in Poland faces…

Media freedom at a crossroads: Journalism in Poland faces uncertain future ahead of election

The Media Freedom Rapid Response today issued its report “Media Freedom at a crossroads: Journalism in Poland faces uncertain future ahead of election” following its mission to Warsaw on 11 – 13 September.

The report explores how media capture and the widespread use of vexatious lawsuits have been used to create a hostile climate for independent journalism that weakens media’s ability to contribute to free and fair elections.

Key findings include:

The public media have been fully converted into a propaganda arm of the ruling party.
The National Broadcasting Council, KRRiT, has abused its licensing powers to create business uncertainty and is applying arbitrary financial penalties to impose fear and self-censorship in newsrooms.
Media pluralism was compromised when, in 2021, the state-controlled oil company, PKN Orlen, took over the largest regional media company, Polska Press. The subsequent editorial purge and shift in editorial lines to favour the ruling party ahead of upcoming elections makes it one of the most flagrant examples of media capture in Europe.
State advertising has been weaponised by the government to fund favourable media outlets and undermine independent journalism which exacerbates the financial pressure on media.
Polish media are subjected to one of the largest number of vexatious lawsuits, or SLAPPs, in the European Union. Most are initiated by ruling party politicians, state companies, and public institutions and therefore financed by public money.
While Polish media have proved resilient thanks to the presence of foreign owners, the hostile economic climate may force many to withdraw. Such a move is likely to have a devastating impact on media pluralism.
The overwhelming majority of commentators met by the mission expressed deep concern that the country was at a crossroads and that four more years of the current policy would accelerate media capture and push Poland down the path to emulating the media environment in Hungary, Turkey, or Russia.

The mission was organised by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR). The delegation comprised of representatives of ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), and International Press Institute (IPI). The mission took place in Warsaw between 11 – 13 September and met with a wide range of editors, journalists, regulators, civil society groups, lawyers, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Ministry of Culture.

A Polish language translation of the report will be published shortly.

Download the report [ENG]

Download the report [PL]