20/03/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 19 March, the Council of the EU ratified the Interinstitutional Agreement reached with the European Parliament on 30 November on the directive to combat intimidation lawsuits (SLAPPs) (see EUROPE 13304/5). Parliament voted in favour of the agreement at its plenary session on 27 February, supporting it by a very large majority (546 votes in favour, 47 against and 31 abstentions) (see EUROPE 13359/11). The text, which is intended in particular to protect journalists and human rights defenders against strategic lawsuits aimed at stifling their work, will come into force 20 days after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal. The EU27 will then have two years to transpose the directive into national law. (TM)