Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

Ingeborg Beugel, a Dutch journalist based in Greece, is being targeted by a systematic defamation campaign on social media and in the government-friendly press after a pointed question she posed to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis regarding the pushbacks against migrants allegedly carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard. This defamation campaign has led to her being assaulted in the street. Furthermore, the mayor of the Greek island of Hydra, who is close to the governing party New Democracy, filed a lawsuit against Ingeborg Beugel the day after she commented on the local election results in Hydra – where Beugel also lives.

Keeping in mind that SLAPPs are being used all the more often against journalists in the EU and that Parliament recently voted in favour of a stricter legal framework to protect journalism and the freedom of speech:

What will the Commission do to protect journalists and the freedom of speech until the upcoming anti-SLAPP directive is implemented by the Member States?

Answer given by Vice-President Jourová on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission is currently preparing an initiative to protect journalists and rights defenders against Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). This initiative is planned for 2022 and will consist of a comprehensive package of legislative and non-legislative measures. To identify the problems in this area, the Commission has launched an open public consultation and a dedicated consultation to national judges, which will be open until 10 January 2022 .

The Commission is already monitoring the state of media pluralism, including SLAPPs, in the context of Rule of Law Reports. In addition, t he Commission supports initiatives, which are aimed at monitoring press and media violations and helping journalists with practical and legal support, such as the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.

On 16 September 2021, the Commission adopted a recommendation on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and is currently preparing the European Media Freedom Act to safeguard media freedom in the EU.