European Federation of Journalists

European elections: EFJ Manifesto endorsed by 118 candidates


Ahead of the European elections taking place from 23 to 26 May, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), has launched a Manifesto for the revival of a free and pluralistic media in Europe. Up to now, 118 candidates from ten countries showed their support for EFJ’s demands concerning the following eight topics:

  1. Media pluralism
  2. Financial sustainability & the future of journalism
  3. Investigative journalism
  4. Collective bargaining and social protection for all workers
  5. Trust and accountability through ethical journalism
  6. Authors’ rights – Fair contracts for all
  7. Strong independent public service media
  8. Safety at work: no to impunity

Some parties endorsed the Manifesto titled “Europe needs journalism” with their whole list of candidates: The French party Génération.s (79 candidates), led by Benoît Hamon and the Spanish Delegación Socialista Española, led by Josep Borell Fontelles (59 candidates).

“In the age of social media, dis- and misinformation and echo chambers, it is vital that citizens have access to independent media and journalism they can trust”, said EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregård.”To make democracies thrive in Europe, European politicians must support free and independent media, as much as the processes allowing high quality journalism. To enable journalists to do their work properly, decent working conditions through social dialogue including freelancers, are urgent”, he added.

Various forms of (self-)censorship as a result of political and economic pressures have also grown across Europe. Journalists have become the first casualty of these threats.

The EFJ has welcomed the willingness of the out-going European Parliament to support media freedom, authors’ rights, whistleblowers’ protection and more protection for new forms of work including for freelances and self-employed. We hope that the new European Parliament will continue this established cooperation with the EFJ and its national affiliates to defend the rights of journalists and press freedom in Europe.

The EFJ Manifesto is available in English, French, German, Spanish and Catalan.

Germany

1. Gabriele Bischoff
2. Knut Fleckenstein
3. Manfred Weber
4. Martin Häusling
5. Özlem Alev Demirel
6. Martina Michels
7. Kathrin Flach Gomez
8. Patrick Breyer

Austria

9. Werner Kogler
10. Claudia Gammon

Spain

11. Joseph Borell Fontelles
12. Iratxe García Pérez
13. Inmaculada Rodríguez-Pinero Fernández
14. Eider Gardiazabal Rubial
15. Clara Eugenia Aguilera García
16. Juan Fernando López Aguilar
17. Jonás Fernández
18. Izaskun Bilbao Barandica

Malta

19. Antoine P. Borg

Denmark

20. Margrete Auken

France

21. Sylvie Guillaume
22. 79 candidates of Génération.s

Slovenia

23. Tanja Fajon

Slovakia

24. Monika Beňová

Croatia

25. Zoran Bahtijarević
26. Davor Banović
27. Mato Tomljanović
28. Ivica Puljak
29. Nenad Matić
30. Saša Poljanec Borić
31. Hrvoje Štefan
32. Sunčana Glavak
33. Ljubo Jurčić
34. Mirela Holy
35. Matija Posavec
36. Dalija Orešković
37. Sandra Benačić
38. Dominik Vuletić
39. Ana Volarić- Mršić

United Kingdom

40. Julie Ward

Credit photo: Omer Messinger / AFP