Italy: Concern about prosecutor’s demand for prison sentence for three journalists in response to their factual reporting - Article

Media freedom groups raise concern over Lecce’s prosecutor request that three journalists be jailed for six months in connection with their reporting about a labour lawsuit involving a former government minister. No journalist should face nor fear prison sentences for having published information in the public interest

Greece: Letter to Grigoris Dimitriadis, SLAPP Politician of the Year - Article

In this letter to the former general secretary of Greek Prime Minister's office, MFRR partners express concern about defamation claims filed against investigative journalists and media outlets

Slovakia: Deputy PM’s attacks undermined government’s broader efforts to strengthen press freedom - Article

Media freedom groups express dismay over the recent attempts by deputy Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič to denigrate the country’s media

France: Investigative media outlets under attack in five gagging lawsuits - Article

Media freedom groups raise concern over the recent wave of gagging lawsuits initiated by companies against several independent media outlets in France

Call for Italian political forces to take a stand against SLAPPs, a ‘slap’ in the face of freedom of information - Article

The right of citizens to be informed about matters of public interest and of journalists to write freely about them cannot and must not be hindered by SLAPPs. Civil society's appeal to the future parliament to promote measures to contrast strategic lawsuits

Also available ITA

Albania: Press freedom groups call for a fair trial in defamation lawsuit by former top prosecutor against Isa Myzyraj - Article

The defamation case filed against journalist Isa Myzyraj by a former Tirana's prosecutor raises our concerns. MFRR and media freedom organisations call for a fair trial in which the importance of free speech and public interest reporting is appropriately considered

Why the "Greek Watergate" earthquake has only just begun - Article

A digital surveillance scandal targeting PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis and investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis, via Predator spyware. The so-called "Greek Watergate" is shaking the Mitsotakis government

by Alessio Giussani

2022 Rule of Law Report - Reports

On 13 July 2022, the European Commission adopted the third Rule of Law Report, which includes 27 country chapters and new recommendations to each Member State

2022 Rule of Law Report: country chapter on the rule of law situation in Italy - Reports

The 2022 country chapter on the rule of law situation in Italy analyses four key areas: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and media freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances

Synergies and training are needed against SLAPP, or gag complaints - Article

Media expert lawyer Andrea Di Pietro positively comments on the anti-SLAPP package of the European Commission and stresses the need for training initiatives aimed at legal practitioners, to recognise and combat the gag complaints that threaten freedom of expression and the right of citizens to participate in the public debate

by Paola Rosà