Brussels, 31/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 31 March, the European Parliament civil liberties committee passed European rules to ensure that the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty is fully respected in member states, inserting amendments to prevent statements by public authorities that might suggest a suspect is guilty before a final conviction; a Parliament press release reports.
The amendments also “ensure that the burden of proof stays with the prosecution and guarantee the rights to remain silent, not to incriminate oneself and to be present at trial”.
According to the amendments adopted, public authorities “must refrain from making public statements referring to suspects or accused persons 'as if they were guilty', before a final conviction or before or after a final acquittal”. The amended rules will therefore require EU countries to forbid their public authorities from disclosing information, “including in interviews and in communications issued through or in conjunction with the media”, or from leaking information to the press “which could create prejudice or bias against the suspect or accused person before final conviction in court”. EU countries should also promote the adoption of codes of ethical practice in cooperation with the media, the civil liberties committee says. The latter also deleted the Commission's initial proposal “allowing presumptions that shift the burden of proof from the prosecution to suspects or accused persons”. The report by Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, France) was passed by 43 votes to 6, with 1 abstention. It gives her a mandate to open negotiations with the Council. (Solenn Paulic)