&nbsp;Follow the Money won the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for exposing the hidden financial networks enabling Russia’s sanction-evading oil trade. The&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://www.ftm.eu/articles/who-is-behind-the-russian-shadow-fleet?share=wge64Sf2j4nGxIjYIzKSgLJ/fUMpaOz82IYM45YI3McuEe5azfrap36CM9vWEYo%3D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">investigation</a>, coordinated by the platform for investigative journalism “Follow the Money” in collaboration with media from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, revealed how Western shipowners earned over 6 billion dollars selling 230 aging tankers to Russia's shadow fleet.

&nbsp;The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.&nbsp;

The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press.

Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism. Parliament has repeatedly&nbsp;denounced attempts to limit media freedom, and especially attacks against journalists, in any form and wherever they may come from. MEPs were instrumental in the effort that culminated in March 2024 in the&nbsp;European Media Freedom Act, which protects media freedom and journalists' safety and independence. They also pushed for years for rules to tackle malicious litigation, aiming to protect journalists and civil society from strategic lawsuits seeking to silence critical voices, and the EU’s&nbsp;anti-SLAPP directive&nbsp;was finally approved in February 2024.&nbsp;

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

MEPs will engage in a debate with the Commission focused on media pluralism, independent journalism and on combating the rising tide of disinformation. With fake news and coordinated disinformation campaigns increasingly used as tools for political interference the urgency of this discussion is heightened by recent incidents surrounding the June 2024 European elections and various national elections. The surge in disinformation has also been exacerbated by significant events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Ursula von der Leyen announced the introduction of a new European Democracy Shield aimed at countering foreign information manipulation.

The European Parliament has taken proactive steps to safeguard citizens from disinformation and foreign interference through legislative measures like the anti-SLAPP directive and the Media Freedom Act. The latter aims to protect editorial freedom from political interference while offering enhanced safeguards for journalists and their sources. The EU's broader strategy seeks to address the challenges posed by disinformation by strengthening cooperation among member states, enhancing accountability for online platforms, and establishing a robust regulatory framework under the Digital Services Act. This comprehensive approach aims to preserve democratic integrity and foster public trust amidst an increasingly complex information landscape.

Facing fake news, populism and disinformation in the EU

Press conference on New EU rules ensuring protection for journalists and media outlets from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Press conference on Trilogue deal on new anti-SLAPP rules

Press conference by Tiemo WÖLKEN rapporteur on New EU rules ensuring protection for journalists and media outlets from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Press conference by Tiemo WÖLKEN, rapporteur on Trilogue deal on new anti-SLAPP rules

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Tiemo WÖLKEN, rapporteur on EU protection from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA and Tiemo WÖLKEN, co-rapporteurs, on “Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU: the undue use of SLAPPs

Press briefing with lead rapporteurs on new anti-SLAPP report

Press conference on EU protection from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President addresses a European Anti-SLAPP Conference

Press conference - Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU: the undue use of SLAPPs

JURI-LIBE Committee - Media freedom a pluralism, anti-SLAPP report

Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE) rapporteur, holds a press conference on new EU rules ensuring protection for journalists and media outlets from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Plenary greenlights new EU rules to protect journalists and activists working on fundamental rights, allegations of corruption and disinformation from abusive lawsuits aimed at silencing them. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE) rapporteur on New EU rules ensuring protection for journalists and media outlets from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Following a policy debate in December 2022, on 9 June 2023, the Council (Justice and Home Affairs) approved a General Approach (GA) which was the basis for trilogue negotiations with Parliament. Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, holds a press conference on the anti-slapp rules trilogue deal. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, on the anti-slapp rules trilogue deal

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), rapporteur on EU protection from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), hold a press conference on the draft directive on rules to protect journalists, activists, academics, artists and researchers against legal actions aimed at silencing them. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), rapporteur on EU protection from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

MEPs debate on their position on rules to protect journalists, activists, academics, artists and researchers against legal actions aimed at silencing them. The draft directive provides minimum standards of protection from lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) in the EU through early dismissal of these cases, obliging the claimant to cover the costs of proceedings and not recognising third country judgements. The rules should apply in cross-border cases when the claimant and defendant are not based in the same country as the court or when the case is relevant to more than one member state and the disputed work can be accessed electronically. MEPs are also set to call on member states to ensure that SLAPP victims get legal, financial and psychological assistance. Extracts from the debate (10/07) and from the vote, statement by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur.

Protecting journalists and activists against abusive lawsuits: extracts from the debate (10/07) and from the vote, statement by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on their position on rules to protect journalists, activists, academics, artists and researchers against legal actions aimed at silencing them. The draft directive provides minimum standards of protection from lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) in the EU through early dismissal of these cases, obliging the claimant to cover the costs of proceedings and not recognising third country judgements. The rules should apply in cross-border cases when the claimant and defendant are not based in the same country as the court or when the case is relevant to more than one member state and the disputed work can be accessed electronically. MEPs are also set to call on member states to ensure that SLAPP victims get legal, financial and psychological assistance. Opening statements by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE) and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings: Opening statements by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE) and by Věra JOUROVÁ, EC VP in charge of Values and Transparency

MEPs debate on their position on rules to protect journalists, activists, academics, artists and researchers against legal actions aimed at silencing them. The draft directive provides minimum standards of protection from lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) in the EU through early dismissal of these cases, obliging the claimant to cover the costs of proceedings and not recognising third country judgements. The rules should apply in cross-border cases when the claimant and defendant are not based in the same country as the court or when the case is relevant to more than one member state and the disputed work can be accessed electronically. MEPs are also set to call on member states to ensure that SLAPP victims get legal, financial and psychological assistance. MEPs debate

Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on their position on rules to protect journalists, activists, academics, artists and researchers against legal actions aimed at silencing them. The draft directive provides minimum standards of protection from lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) in the EU through early dismissal of these cases, obliging the claimant to cover the costs of proceedings and not recognising third country judgements. The rules should apply in cross-border cases when the claimant and defendant are not based in the same country as the court or when the case is relevant to more than one member state and the disputed work can be accessed electronically. MEPs are also set to call on member states to ensure that SLAPP victims get legal, financial and psychological assistance. Opening statements by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Ramona STRUGARIU (Renew, RO), LIBE Committee, and by Věra JOUROVÁ, EC VP in charge of Values and Transparency

Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings: Opening statements by Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Ramona STRUGARIU (Renew, RO), LIBE, and by Věra JOUROVÁ, EC VP

Over the years, techniques to limit freedom of expression have been refined, in innovative ways, often taking advantage of a legal void or grey zones between legal norms. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are abusive or meritless lawsuits filed against someone for exercising their political rights or freedom of expression in relation to matters of public interest. In April 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a directive intended to protect people who engage in public participation from these manifestly unfounded or abusive civil court proceedings with cross-border implications. The proposal is being analysed by the co-legislators. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Combating strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) are organising the European Anti-SLAPP Conference. Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are legal threats and lawsuits used by powerful individuals and corporations to limit freedom of expression by intimidating and discouraging journalists from gathering and publishing information on public matters. In the last three years, civil society organisations in Europe joined forces to counter SLAPPs which resulted in the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of Europe responding and countering such threats with concrete initiatives.

European Anti-SLAPP ConferenceOpening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Marija PEJČINOVIĆ BURIĆ, Secretary General, the Council of Europe

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