Brussels: The European Union’s executive arm asked the member countries on Thursday to protect journalists in the midst of the emergence of physical attacks and online threats on media professionals.
According to the European Commission, 908 journalists and media workers were attacked in block 27 countries in 2020.
A total of 23 journalists have been killed in the EU since 1992, with the majority of murder for the past six years.
“There are no journalists who have to die or disadvantaged because of their work.
We need to support and protect journalists; they are very important for democracy,” Vera Jourova, vice president of commission for values ​​and transparency.
“Pandemic has shown more than before the key journalist’s role to tell us.
And the urgent need for public authorities to do more to protect them.” The murder of journalists remained rare in Europe, but the murder of journalists in Slovakia and Malta in recent years has raised concerns about the safety of journalists in a society developed, democratic.
Earlier this year, the European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen expressed support for investigative journalism after the murder of Peter Ren de Vries, a famous Dutch journalist who reported under the cruel Dutch world.
Not binding commission proposals include recommendations for EU countries to ensure fair and effective investigations and prosecution, and to provide protection for those under threat, with a strong focus on female journalists.
According to the European Union, 73% of female journalists have experienced online violence and the Commission said the EU countries must “support the initiative aimed at empowering female and professional journalists belonging to minority groups and those who reported equality issues.” The Executive Block arm also proposes the creation of support services, including help channels, legal advice, and psychological support.
It insisted on the need to ensure the safety of reporters during demonstrations, where most attacks occurred.
“Member States must provide regular training for law enforcement authorities to ensure that journalists and other media professionals can work safely and without restrictions during such events,” Commission said.
Noting that digital and online security has become a “main concern” because of an online attack but also the risk of illegal supervision, the executive branch also encourages EU countries to increase cooperation between the media and cyberspace.
“The relevant National Cybersecurity Agency must, at the request, help journalists who seek to determine whether their device or online account has been compromised, in obtaining Cybersecurity forensic sympathizers,” Commission said.
The proposal was launched only a few months after the annual report of the commission about compliance with the law supremacy concluded that democratic standards erode in several member countries.
The report mainly chose Slovenia, which currently holds the president of the six-month European Council round, for attacks on the Balkan Crane media.
“It’s not just Slovenia, we see very aggressive rhetoric in some other member countries,” Jourova said, adding that the EU would continue to pressure member countries where sustainable problems were visible.