"Nationalists marching in Chemnitz, (the) anti-Soros campaign in Hungary or growing anti-Muslim or anti-Roma rhetoric are just a few examples that show that despite the Charter (ed: of Fundamental Rights of the European Union), despite a strong legal framework and dedicated people, like yourselves, we have a problem". These were the words of European Commissioner for Justice Věra Jourová, summing up the essence of the message she had just delivered at the Fundamental Rights Forum in Vienna on Tuesday 25 September.
In her speech, Jourová indeed warned against the rise of the "bad version of nationalism", which promotes exclusion, hate, violence and racial discrimination. This is a trend that is all the more worrying, given that it no longer affects only the extremist parties in Europe because its rhetoric is also picked up by certain traditional parties, she said.
What should the response be? In Jourová's view, it should not be sermons or exclusion, but rather the promotion of "healthy patriotism" and "belonging to a close-knit community".
Her concerns as regard the worsening of democracy in the EU were particularly topical given the scandal that broke on Monday when a note from Austria's Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (from the country's far right FPÖ party) was uncovered recommending the police corps to limit its communication with media critical of the government.
Words on media badly interpreted from Brussels
In her speech, Jourová also underlined the role of political leaders and the media in the digital era.
She especially denounced irresponsible politicians who take advantage of the freedom of expression by using fear to achieve their ends. She thus called on politicians to show "responsibility in their words" and "restraint".
As regards the media, she said they play just as important a role, not only because they relay the words of these political figures but also because they facilitate the dialogue of culture and should not spread false information.
In Jourová's opinion, the media debate surrounding Brexit is a telling example. She thus mentioned "the first page of a popular British daily calling the judges the 'enemy of the people'", and said "the EU leaders were called 'Dirty Rats' on another first page".
Jourová says she understands the pressures of the digital world to which the media is subject (such as the loss of readers and advertising income) and which oblige them to reduce their staff and thus to do less fact-checking.
"I argue in favour of a European approach of the media based on quality and intelligent regulation, if necessary", she said – words which were badly interpreted by several journalists from Brussels.
Questioned about precisely what Jourová meant and the possibility of European legislation on the media, Nathalie Vandystadt, a Commission spokesperson, said the Czech commissioner was in fact referring to initiatives that have already been proposed and that must be fully implemented by the member states. She thus gave assurances that no European legislation was being developed on this.
"Her remarks aimed to trigger a discussion (...) Her speech mainly focuses on the financing of media", the spokesperson said. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)