Until now, Europe seemed to be a stronghold of freedom of the press. The Secretary-General of “reporters without borders”, Chris tope Deloire, sees the situation in a guest comment for DW-Freedom is significantly more skeptical.
Christophe Deloire, Secretary General of “reporters without borders”
Actually could appreciate Europe happy, writes the Secretary-General of reporters without borders (RWB), Christophe Deloire, in a guest comment for the DW platform is “Freedom”. But only actually. Because even if in Europe the value of the press and freedom of expression is not allowed to close “the eyes to the fact that in the last few years, a dam has been exploded, and it is the cornerstone of our democracy has been severely damaged”.
As an example, Deloire called the murders of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and her Slovak colleague Ján Kuciak. These murders – so Deloire – “one of the most serious attacks on the freedom of the press. They are also the Symptom of a deep-rooted problem”. The journalism in Europe had been weakened by a “relentless and often exaggerated Anti-media rhetoric of some political leader”. An example of this is the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the alleged “Fake News” as an Argument to justify his refusal to speak with independent media. In other countries, journalists were to be made by a variety of legal processes against them muzzled.
EU Commissioner for freedom of the press required
“We cannot resign ourselves to this Situation,” write Deloire on the Website of the Deutsche Welle. As a remedy, he calls on the EU to force after the European elections end of may, “the political will to strengthen the freedom of the press across the continent.” The protection of freedom, independence and diversity of journalism should be anchored to the top of the European Union. Specifically, Deloire and “reporters without borders” to ensure that the next EU Commission will designate a Commissioner who is committed explicitly for the protection of the freedom of the press.
“From Bucharest to Madrid, and from Nicosia to Stockholm, from Dublin to Vienna, the civil society needs a high-level representative, to the you can apply, if this essential freedom is violated. He or she would lead a solid and continuous dialogue with the member States, concerns about the right to reliable news and information outside of our borders Express and the necessary legislative reforms for the EU launch,” writes Deloire in his guest commentary.
Freedom of the press as a European core value
He therefore calls upon all candidates for the European Parliament in Strasbourg, “to ensure that the leadership of the Commission acquires such a political will. We need the members of the European Parliament, in order to bring the legal framework up to date.”
The freedom of the press stand in the center of the democratic aspirations that have brought together members of the European Union. “With his defense of Europe to protect his political model, both internally and against external threats. You must equip itself with powerful means to defend your values.” So Europe should also impose financial and administrative sanctions to punish those who curtail the freedom of the media. Deloire closes his appeal with the words: “It is time to call for a strong political Union and to make the freedom of the press a core value of the EU, placing it in the center of their work.”