Type: Acts of the European Union: European Parliament Resolution on the freedom of press and media in the world

Authority: European Authorities - European Union: European Parliament

Date: 06/13/2013

Subject: The European Parliament recognises that governments have the primary responsibility for guaranteeing and protecting freedom of the press and media; it emphasises that free, independent and pluralistic online and traditional media are one of the cornerstones of democracy and pluralism; it stresses that the authorities cannot deal with threats and violence directed at journalists or ensure their safety unless the political, judicial and police authorities take decisive action against those who attack journalists and their work; it deplores the fact that the criminalisation of expression is on the rise; it considers that the digitisation of the press and media is adding new layers to the media landscape, raising questions regarding access, quality, the objectivity of information and its protection; it deplores the fact that numerous technologies and services deployed in third countries to violate human rights through censorship of information, mass surveillance, monitoring, and tracing and tracking of citizens and their activities on (mobile) telephone networks and the internet originate in the EU; urges the Commission to take all necessary steps to stop this ‘digital arms trade’; it stresses the need for whistleblower and source protection, and for the EU to act to that end globally.

Classification: Freedoms - Art. 11 Freedom of information - Media - Pluralism

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