Strasbourg, 13/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 13 June, the European Parliament called on the EU to take the lead to ensure the protection of journalists worldwide and asked the European Commission, the Council and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to adopt a strategy as quickly as possible on press and media freedom as part of the EU's foreign policy. In Marietje Schaake's (ALDE, Netherlands) report on press and media freedom worldwide which the MEPs adopted, the MEPs call for the EU to take a firmer position against countries that allow acts of violence, murders and abuse of journalists to go unpunished. In the MEPs' opinion, the EU must also play a bigger role in maintaining pluralism and press freedom in the EU candidate countries, the neighbouring countries and in trade negotiations and association agreements. However, it can only serve as an example if it resolves the issues within its borders, the MEPs state - several of whom criticised, during the debate, the closure of the Greek state audiovisual group, ERT.
Stressing that governments have the protection of press and media freedom as a principal responsibility - including online media - and that governments are also principally responsible for the restrictions imposed on the media, Parliament calls on the states to ensure the safety of journalists. It calls for the immediate release of journalists and bloggers who are in prison because of their work. It is of the utmost importance that the media be able to exercise its duties independently - without being subjected to political or financial pressure, the MEPs state. (CG/transl.fl)