In a statement released on Thursday, August 1, Reporters Without Borders and 13 other human rights groups call on the European Union to publicly condemn the growing restrictions on press freedom.
They even note that “the European Commission’s report on the rule of law for 2024, published on 24 July 2024, misleads readers about the state of the rule of law in Greece at a time when media freedom and civic space face dire threats and attacks”.
As they say “The overwhelmingly positive account in the report stands in stark contrast to a disturbing reality experienced by journalists, activists and civil society organizations on the ground.”
“Greece consistently ranks last among European Union countries in Reporters Without Borders’ Global Press Freedom Index”, notes among other things. (See here)
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At the same time, he expresses concerns as to whether the European Commission is willing to face the depth of the crisis in a member state of the European Union and to defend the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece.
He even adds:
“Journalists are intimidated and harassed by invasive state surveillance, including through the use of commercial spyware, abusive legal actions and coordinated online smear campaigns, often instigated or enhanced by pro-government actors. These tactics not only erode journalists’ ability to work freely, but endanger the lives, safety and confidentiality of their sources.”
In their appeal, the recent prosecutorial decision of the Supreme Court on wiretapping, the impunity for the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, but also “the lack of media pluralism, including unacceptable government control of state media”. It also talks about “collusion between media owners and political interests (that) lead to a pervasive climate of censorship and self-censorship, which further distorts the media landscape and undermines journalistic independence.”
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Full announcement as published on RSF:
RSF and its partners are warning the EU not to ignore the deterioration of the rule of law in Greece
While the European Commission’s report on the rule of law in Greece lists the Global Press Freedom Index – where Greece ranks last in the European Union (EU) – it fails to understand the crisis threatening the right to information in the country. On August 1, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 13 other international and Greek human rights groups released a statement calling on the EU executive to publicly condemn increasing restrictions on press freedom.
The European Commission’s Rule of Law Report 2024, published on 24 July 2024, misleads readers about the state of the rule of law in Greece at a time when media freedom and civil space are facing dire threats and attacks , 14 human rights and media freedom organizations said today.
The overwhelmingly positive account in the report stands in stark contrast to a disturbing reality experienced by journalists, activists and civil society organizations on the ground, and a growing international concern over the deterioration of the rule of law in the country, highlighted by 17 human rights and press freedom groups in a February 2024 letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Commission’s report ignores a stark discrepancy between the Greek government’s self-reported data and the troubling evidence submitted to the European Commission by civil society organizations and journalists. It focuses disproportionately on positive developments, without weighing them against the broader systemic issues and ongoing violations. This raises concerns about the Commission’s willingness to address the depth of the crisis in a European Union member state and defend the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece.
By exposing critical issues in Greece facing the media and civil society, the European Commission’s findings risk strengthening the Greek government’s crackdown on independent media and civil society, the groups said.
Greece consistently ranks last among European Union countries in Reporters Without Borders’ Global Press Freedom Index. In February 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution expressing “serious concerns about very serious threats to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights” in Greece.
While the Commission’s report on the rule of law recognizes issues with the independence and resources of the media regulator, the independence of public service media, access to information, the persistence of threats to the safety of journalists and the potential chilling consequences of strategic anti-public participation lawsuits (SLAPPs) and harassment, including politicians, fails to understand the gravity of the ongoing crisis, the groups said.
The report points to some positive developments and legislative changes, such as the decriminalization of the offense of simple defamation, but it does not adequately reflect chronic flaws in the implementation of previous reforms and deep-rooted systemic issues that continue to erode media freedom.
Journalists are intimidated and harassed by invasive state surveillance, including through the use of commercial spyware, abusive legal actions, and coordinated online smear campaigns, often instigated or enhanced by pro-government actors. These tactics not only erode journalists’ ability to work freely, but endanger the lives, safety and confidentiality of their sources.
This is exacerbated by this week’s Supreme Court prosecutorial decision that absolves all Greek government agencies or any government officials of responsibility for using Predator spyware against dozens of prominent people, including journalists, despite documented evidence of their involvement.
Impunity for those who threaten and harass journalists worsens the hostile environment for journalists in Greece as no specific action plans or investigative protocols are implemented. The acquittal this week of the suspects in the 2021 murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, leaving his death unsolved, further perpetuates the climate of impunity for crimes against journalists in Greece. The lack of media pluralism, including unacceptable government control of state media, and collusion between media owners and political interests lead to a pervasive climate of censorship and self-censorship, which further distorts the media landscape and undermines journalistic independence.
Civil society organizations and human rights defenders, particularly those working on migration issues, also face significant obstacles, including criminal prosecution, for their work in Greece. The European Commission in the report does not adequately address the damaging effects of these chilling tactics on freedom of expression and association in Greece.
The incoming European Commission should take a stronger stance in maintaining its commitment to fundamental rights and democratic values in Member States, including publicly condemning specific cases of restrictions on press freedom, suppression of civil society or violations of rule of law.
The people of Greece deserve a free press, a vibrant civil society and a government that respects the rule of law, the groups said.
They sign:
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR)
ORNAMENTS Greece
Human Rights Watch
Inside Story
Observatory Balkans and Caucasus Transeuropa (OBCT)
Refugee Support Aegean (RSA)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Solomon
Transparency International EU
Vouliwatch
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