Brussels, 18/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 March, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) speaking through its president, Arne König, called on Romania to withdraw a draft law amending its civil code given that some of the changes it contains, considered “absurd”, would be seriously detrimental to European principles on access to information and freedom of the press. The bill, drawn up as a matter of urgency but above all without consulting media representatives, was adopted last week by the government and sent to the Parliament. One of the articles of the proposal on the defence of non-patrimonial rights would restrict access to information by citizens, above all allowing courts to seize, destroy, confiscate or withdraw from circulation goods and means that have served or been used for the preliminary ruling after the fashion of material used by journalists. Journalists would also be under an obligation to answer public requests within “three days at most” or to face a court ruling obliging them to publish a response or a correction “fully, without alteration, change or cut”. The media could also be under an obligation to reveal sources used for the obtaining or diffusion of information in their defence against such a ruling. “This legal obligation is against all European principles of freedom of the press”, said Arne König. “Journalists cannot be forced by law to answer all public requests or be forced to reveal their sources in order to show their goodwill”, he added. The EFJ is also concerned by the powers that courts would have to order seizure and confiscation of evidence and the payment of a fine to philanthropic organisations further to an urgent court decision. (B.C./transl.jl)