On the rule of law and media freedom in Greece
B-9-2024-0099
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Elissavet VozembergVrionidi, Tomáš Zdechovský, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, IoanRareş Bogdan, Lukas Mandl, Nadine Morano, Jeroen Lenaers, Michaela Šojdrová, Loucas Fourlas, Eleni Stavrou, AnnaMichelle Asimakopoulou, Manolis Kefalogiannis, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Vangelis Meimarakis, Maria Spyraki, Theodoros Zagorakis, Paulo Rangel
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's resolution on the rule of law and media freedom in Greece notes that constitutional and legislative safeguards have been strengthened through recent reforms and administrative measures.¶ It welcomes progress on the 2022 Rule of Law Report recommendations, the transposition of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, safeguards against media market concentration, and Greece's commitment to implement the European media freedom act and the SLAPPs directive.¶¶¶ It welcomes the inter-ministerial Memorandum of Understanding on the protection and safety of journalists, the task force it created, the International Training Centre for the Safety of Journalists, and steps to safeguard the independence of public service media.¶¶¶ It notes the SLAPPs observatory set up by the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions, the collective labour agreement for journalists employed by public institutions, and support for journalists' social protection.¶¶¶ It takes note of the investigation into the murder of journalist George Karaivaz, calls on the Greek authorities to bring all those responsible to justice, and condemns attacks on and killings of journalists.¶ It notes Greece's whistleblower protections, its amendment of Article 191 of the Criminal Code, its ban on spyware transactions, its border and asylum policies, and the role of Frontex and civil society organisations in Greece.¶¶¶
Key points
- Notes that constitutional and legislative safeguards on media freedom and pluralism in Greece have been further strengthened through recent legislative reforms and administrative measures.¶
- Welcomes Greece's progress on the 2022 Rule of Law Report recommendations, including on asset disclosures, corruption prosecutions, journalists' working conditions and civil society registration requirements.¶
- Welcomes the transposition of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, Law 4779/2021 strengthening the National Council for Radio and Television, and safeguards against market concentration in Laws 5005/2022 and 4915/2022.¶
- Welcomes Greece's declaration of commitment to fully implement the European media freedom act and the directive on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).¶
- Welcomes the inter-ministerial Memorandum of Understanding on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and the task force it created to monitor journalists' safety.¶¶
- Welcomes the establishment in January 2023 of the International Training Centre for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals and its activities.¶
- Acknowledges steps to safeguard the independence of public service media, in particular Law 5062/2023 on the appointment of directors and senior management of public administration bodies.¶
- Underlines that the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions established a SLAPPs observatory to monitor and prevent SLAPPs and support targeted journalists.¶
- Considers that Greece's recent legislative and non-legislative measures have improved the safety of journalists and expects these efforts to continue.¶
- Welcomes the collective labour agreement of August 2022 between the Greek State and journalists' unions, and actions ensuring journalists' social protection and practical support.¶¶
- Takes note of the investigation into the murder of journalist George Karaivaz on 9 April 2021 and the arrests of alleged assassins; calls on Greek authorities to bring all those responsible to justice; condemns attacks on and killings of journalists.¶
- Notes Greece's whistleblower protections under Law 4990/2022, its amendment of Article 191 of the Criminal Code, its ban on spyware under Law 5002/2022, its border and asylum policies, Frontex operations and the role of civil society organisations.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Greece: the resolution notes its reforms and calls on its authorities to continue efforts, including on the Karaivaz investigation.¶¶¶
- Journalists and media professionals in Greece: the resolution welcomes measures on their safety, working conditions and protection from SLAPPs.¶¶¶
- Civil society organisations in Greece: the resolution notes progress on proportionate registration requirements and calls them close partners in migration and asylum management.¶¶
- Frontex: the resolution stresses its largest operations take place in Greece and that it protects external borders while saving lives.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 9 June 1975: date of the Greek Constitution.¶
- 24 May 2023: date of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights report on surveillance by intelligence services.¶
- 15 June 2023: date of Parliament's recommendation on Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware.¶
- 5 July 2023: date of the Commission communication and staff working document on the 2023 Rule of Law Report.¶
- 23 May 2022: date of the inter-ministerial Memorandum of Understanding on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists.¶
- January 2023: establishment of the International Training Centre for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals.¶
- August 2022: conclusion of the collective labour agreement between the Greek State and journalists' unions.¶
- 9 April 2021: date of the murder of journalist George Karaivaz.¶
Legal basis: Articles 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union.¶