Brussels, 05/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On World Press Freedom Day, 2 May, the European Commission underlined the recent projects it has supported to defend journalists' rights, freedom of the press and media pluralism. Several projects have been set up since the start of the year, supported by the European Union to the tune of €800,000.
The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (European University Institute), in co-operation with the Center for Media and Communication Studies, will help journalists working in Europe to understand the regulatory and legal parameters governing the press and help them realise what rights they have in cases of intimidation. The International Press Institute has developed a journalist support network for those wrongly accused of defamation. The Commission has also created an “Index on Censorship”, which will provide a regularly updated list of cases of violations of press freedom or media pluralism in member states and candidate countries. The Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso, SEEMO, Ossigeno Informazione and Professor Eugenia Siapera (University of Dublin) have begun examining freedom of the media in Italy, south-east Europe and Turkey. This project will develop practical support for journalists in these regions who are being prevented from carrying out their profession.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton also spoke during World Press Freedom Day and pointed out that freedom of expression involved everyone having the right to “hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. She also expressed solidarity with all those fighting for the freedom of expression and a free press. (IL)