To mark Press Freedom Day on Tuesday 3 May, MEPs discuss with the European Commission how to address the threats faced by journalists and enhance media freedom. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, opens the plenary paying a tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism. MEPs have denounced the attacks on journalists, particularly from politicians, and called on the Commission to table legislation against abusive lawsuits.

debate

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

freedom of press and media (T)

WÖLKEN, Tiemo (S&D, DE)

BILČÍK, Vladimír (EPP, SK)

STRUGARIU, Ramona (Renew, RO)

FREUND, Daniel (Greens/EFA, DE)

Daphne Caruana Galizia prize for journalism (T)

World Press Freedom Day: extracts from the debate

Title: World Press Freedom Day: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Journalists should never have to choose between uncovering the truth and staying alive. They should never be forced to spend years and savings to argue against vexatious lawsuits or slaps. So today on World Press Freedom Day, we launched a second edition of the Daphne Caruana Surprise for Journalism, a prise named after a journalist assassinated for speaking the truth. And in her memory, we support those who promote and defend core European values and seek to establish the truth through outstanding journalism.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, We want to provide journalists facing threats with legal and psychological support and increase their protection online and offline, for instance, during demonstrations. But any legislation is only as effective as its implementation. Therefore, I call on all member states to fully implement the measures suggested in the recommendation.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, I would like to pay tribute in particular to journalists who are covering the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine from the place they inform us at the risk of their lives. They are our eyes under Russian bombs and threats. They show us what Russia does not want us to see.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vladim&#237;r BIL&#268;&#205;K (EPP, SK), As we continue to face Russia's brutal attack against Ukraine, we must bluntly acknowledge that the Russian media outlets are tools in the Kremlin's war. This information kills dear colleagues. We must not allow any malicious actor to exploit our freedoms across the European Union. We must support independent equality, public service, media for lively and free democratic debate. We must give support to organisations of independent journalists, but be vigilant about those who falsely present themselves as journalists. Let us show zero tolerance to attacks, harassment, violence and threats against journalists.

SOUNDBITE (German), Tiemo W&#214;LKEN (S&amp;D, DE), Our protection and support journalism is not only under threat outside the European Union, that it's not outside and under a hailstorm of bullets that the media destroyed. It's a slow, insidious process that destroys the media and we're seeing in Europe, too, that journalists, brave journalists who are coming under pressure from corrupt politicians and so on, SLAPP legislation is used in order to silence these journalists or to try and intimidate them and scare them.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ramona STRUGARIU (Renew, RO), Putin's war is also a war against free press. Journalists have been targeted. They have been captured and abducted, held hostage, having their names on extermination lists. These are war crimes and every single one of them needs to be paid for. We stand with them all. We cherish their work and bravery. We need to support them with facts and actions, not just words. They are gatekeepers of freedom, pluralism, informed and resilient societies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, DE), Corruption is the reason that young Kuciak was murdered. Corruption is the reason that Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered. Corruption is the reason that clock radio lost its broadcasting licence and corruption is the reason why Hungarian journalists are spied on with Pegasus. It's on all of us as Democrats to protect journalists and free media. It's on us to stand with them even when they write things we might not like, which happens as a politician because protecting free media, protecting journalists, is about protecting our democracy.