The European Union is set to miss a critical opportunity to demonstrate that it is on the side of those who hold power to account. The trilogue negotiations concerning the Directive expected to fight Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are coming to a close and the 74 undersigned organisations are sounding the alarm that, in the absence of certain key provisions, the anti-SLAPP Directive will fail to counteract the growing problem of SLAPPs in the EU. These provisions include first and foremost a strong early dismissal mechanism for all SLAPPs. If the Directive fails to ensure that all claims…

Today, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined 18 organisations representing public service media, journalists, media workers, civil society, as well as the cultural and creative industries in urging the EU’s trilogue negotiators to effectively protect the independence of public service media in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). Maja Sever, EFJ President, said: “The weakening of Article 5 is unthinkable for anyone who sincerely wants media pluralism and independent journalism in Europe. There is no place for “seeking to” or warning by distorting competition in the market. To serve the public, public service media must have a solid framework…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today joins the undersigned media freedom and journalist groups in expressing dismay at the decision of Romania’s Prosecutor Office at the Bucharest Court of Appeal to close the investigation into the smear campaign against journalist Emilia Șercan. To do so, the Prosecutor made the extraordinary ruling that ‘the offences’ – including the publication of stolen private photos and the presumed disclosure of evidence held by the police – ‘were not provided for by the criminal law’. This decision comes twenty months after Șercan first filed a complaint to the police about stolen personal photos…

On 26 October 2023, the United Kingdom passed legislation in the British Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, including provisions to fight Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). Considered a “landmark moment” by the UK’s Anti-SLAPP Coalition, the adoption of the new measures will guarantee to protect journalists reporting on financial crime and corruption. However, the coalition is calling for a stand-alone anti-SLAPP bill to give equal protection to all those who speak out in the public interest. Under the Act, which aims to implement reforms to tackle economic crime and improve transparency over corporate entities, the UK will allow courts…

Update (06/11/23): Journalist Tolga Şardan has been released on 6 November upon an objection petition filed by his lawyers. The EFJ welcomes his release but considers the travel ban imposed on him as wholly unwarranted. ————————– The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression, human rights and journalists’ organizations in strongly condemning the arrest of seasoned journalist Tolga Şardan in Ankara. On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI), the undersigned groups demand that instead of punishing journalists for informing the public, Turkey’s judiciary should hold accountable…

Access to reliable information that journalists provide civil society is the lifeblood of a resilient democracy, where a robust system of checks and balances thrives. Impunity for the killings of journalists diminishes the rule of law and press freedom. As today we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we want to pay a special tribute to those reporters in Europe whose families still await justice for their murders. They were threatened, targeted and murdered for challenging the powerful and corrupt. We call on the states to redouble their political will to tackle impunity. When Greek…