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MEPs approve SLAPP directive
The European Parliament yesterday voted with a very strong majority in favour of an EU directive aimed at protecting journalists, activists, academics, artists, and researchers from SLAPPs
12 July 2023, 4:16pm
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
1 min read
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola
The European Parliament yesterday voted with a very strong majority in favour of an EU directive aimed at protecting journalists, activists, academics, artists, and researchers from SLAPPs.
Following the vote, the President of the European Parliament and Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola stated, “I am proud of this Parliament’s tenacity. Because if it was not for the European Parliament, we would not even have a proposal for the SLAPP directive.”
The European Commission’s proposal for a directive follows up on Parliament’s own initiative report presented in 2021. As First Vice-President, the Maltese MEP spearheaded Parliament’s initiative for EU-wide rules against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). She led efforts together with German S&D MEP Tiemo Wölken and presented a report aimed at getting a wide-reaching agreement to prevent SLAPP suits across the bloc, in what was described as a water-shed moment for journalism in Europe.
Metsola said that the ability for journalists to report freely on issues that are a matter of public interest is not just important, but essential, to the values that underpin our Union, such as equality, democracy and the rule of law.
“In these cases, claimants use their wealth to deter scrutiny. They aim to financially and emotionally drain their targets, forcing journalists to self-censor and producing a chilling effect on the reporting of abuses.”
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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