During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (8-11 March 2021), MEPs debate Government attempts to silence free media in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia. Extracts from the debate. Statements from ZACARIAS Ana Paula, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs and President in office of the Council of the EU, JOUROVÁ Věra, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, and from MEPs: Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Michal ŠIMEČKA (Renew, SK), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, FR), Raffaele FITTO (ECR, IT) and Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL).

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

FITTO, Raffaele (ECR, IT)

LENAERS, Jeroen (EPP, NL)

SIPPEL, Birgit (S&D, DE)

freedom of press and media (T)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Poland (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

EU - Slovenia (T)

BIEDROŃ, Robert (S&D, PL)

ŠIMEČKA, Michal (Renew, SK)

DELBOS-CORFIELD, Gwendoline (Greens/EFA, FR)

ZACARIAS, Ana Paula (PT)

Government attempts to silence free media in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia: extracts from the debate

Title: Government attempts to silence free media in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia: extracts from the debate

General view of the hemicycle before the debate. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, On April 20. We will have a Country-Specific discussion with Ministers of European affairs concerning five member states : Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain and France. And soon all member states will follow by protocol. Last year, the discussions demonstrated the willingness of member states to cooperate and learn from each other, including on media freedom. We trust that every member state will fully contribute to this important debate and ensure that media pluralism and freedom remain a reality.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, Media are not just an economic sector, but an important pillar of democracy and the rule of law. Press freedom and media pluralism are vital to democracy. Independent media play an essential role to help citizens make informed decisions to fight disinformation and the manipulation of the Democratic debate. That is why the Commission has included media freedom and pluralism as one pillar of our annual Rule of Law Report.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, The Rule of Law Report assessed in particular the independence of the media regulatory authorities, transparency of media ownership, state advertising, the safety of journalists and access to information. It looked at the situation in all member states, including Hungary, Poland and Slovenia.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, The COVID-19 pandemic has shown more than ever the essential role of journalists to inform citizens. But at the same time, the media face an economic crisis which started well before the pandemic. More than ever, it is time to support the work of the media and not put additional burdens or pressures on them. This is exactly what the Commission proposed in December for the first time ever be presented a comprehensive approach from the media because the European democracy Action Plan, we put the media where they should be at the core of democracy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rule of law. Independence of the judiciary and media freedom must be upheld and an attack on Polish independent media is an attack on a soul. It is an attack on European values. And the situation is best summarised yesterday by editor in chief of the Independent Daily Gazeta Wyborzca. He said We are treated as enemies for the simple reason that we are independent and we have the courage to speak truth to power.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), In Slovenia, there have been threats by the Prime Minister Janez Jan&scaron;a against journalists. The press agency is struggling to survive whether the government blocks its financing free media are an indispensable pillar of a democracy. But it's not enough to just express fine words and publish reports. What we need now are clear consequences, and the Council needs to get active.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michal &#352;IME&#268;KA (Renew, SK), The Commission has taken little has taken little concrete action and this has to change. And I welcome the fact that the vice president has suggested some new tools. The Parliament would support the Commission in that, but it is time to act now. Otherwise it could be very well too late for these democracies because the attack on on free media is often the beginning of the creep of authoritarianism.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, FR), Every means are being employed by the Fidesz government to suppress purely and simply media freedom and media pluralism : forced closures, media capture, state aid abuse, state advertising only to pro-government media, smear campaigns against journalist, and the creation of a media council which regulates everything is totally non-transparent and completely in the end of the government. This is not rule of law concern, this is the core issue of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Raffaele FITTO (ECR, IT), The Polish government has proposed a draught tax on advertising revenue for the media. This same kind of tax exists in so many other countries of the European Union without anybody in this house being scandalised by it. This is a proposal that is still subject to public consultation and the Polish media are free to express their disagreement and counter proposals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Robert BIEDRO&#323; (S&amp;D, PL), This is how democracy will look without free media