Maltese Government should protect Maltese journalists against domestic SLAPPs - EPP Panel

Addressing an EPP Group Roundtable in Valletta, MEP and Head of Delegation David Casa called on the Maltese Government to “properly transpose Daphne’s law to afford the same protection to Maltese journalists against domestic SLAPP suits as foreign journalists”.

The event, hosted by the EPP Group on the side-lines of the EPP Political Assembly, welcomed European and Maltese parliamentarians and journalists to debate the way forward on European Media Freedom.

Casa outlined the EPP achievements in favour of media freedom in the last European Parliament mandate, including securing an Anti-SLAPP Directive - dubbed “Daphne’s Law” - and leading negotiations on the European Media Freedom Act that strengthens editorial and financial independence of news agencies.

PN MP and shadow minister for Public Broadcasting and Public Administration Claudette Buttigieg, referred to Partit Nazzjonalista’s ongoing challenge to the Government’s half-baked transposition of Daphne’s Law as “one of our most important fights”, criticising it as a “tick box exercise” that would not effectively protect journalists.

Journalists on the panel welcomed the European legislation as “good news for journalists and journalism”, and warned that the next challenge was to secure their implementation”.

Likewise, Casa urged for the implementation of those laws to be bolstered, noting that the transposition of Daphne’s Law ignored a crucial Commission Recommendation that would serve to protect Maltese journalists against domestic abusive litigation.

Participants expressed concern for the deteriorating media freedom and rule of law situation in Malta, echoing comments from fellow MEPs in an October plenary debate in Strasbourg.

Indeed, panellists warned of underhanded attempts at re-introducing criminal libel, the draconian and arbitrary procedures that still stifle access to information, and worrying attempts in court to get journalists and activists to reveal their sources.

The future of journalism in Malta hinged on the right of journalists to regulate their own industry, to have predictable and transparent allocation of state advertising revenues, and for access to information to be strongly improved.

On their part, PN politicians reiterated their commitment to improve the media landscape domestically and at a European level, and to continue having genuine consultations with journalism bodies.

EPP Group Vice-Chairpersons Željana Zovko (MEP, Croatia) and Andzrej Halicki (MEP, Poland), Hon. Claudette Buttigieg, IGM President Matthew Xuereb and Repubblika Executive Officer Manuel Delia participated in the event, as well as former PN leader and EPP Group Secretary General Simon Busuttil, MEP Peter Agius, representatives of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation and several members of various PN organisations.