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10.04.2018 9:25
EU anti-SLAPP legislation all the more urgent – David Casa
Important notice
Views expressed here are the views of the national delegation and do not always reflect the views of the group as a whole
Following yesterday’s events - whereby the Maltese Government, through Minister Owen Bonnici, voted against an amendment proposed by Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi, calling for the protection of Maltese journalists from SLAPP procedures – an EU Anti-SLAPP Directive is now all the more urgent.
Maltese journalists have been victims of SLAPP procedures by entities such as the now notorious Pilatus Bank and Henley & Partners, in foreign jurisdictions - such as the United States. These practices are abusive, pose a threat to media freedom and have no place in the European Union.
In view of this, the Head of Delegation of Partit Nazzjonalista in the European Parliament David Casa this morning informed First Vice President Frans Timmermans of the latest developments in the Maltese Parliament. Mr Casa reiterated his call for the EU intervention to protect investigative journalism.
A copy of the letter sent by MEP David Casa is being attached to this press release.
Note to editors
The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 219 Members from 28 Member States
<p>A SLAPP is a ‘strategic lawsuit against public participation’, intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition. Such lawsuits have been made illegal in many jurisdictions - not yet in Malta - on the grounds that they impede freedom of speech.</p>
Matthew BONETT
former staff member
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