Renew Europe says it is “very concerned” about recent political developments in Slovenia related to press freedom.
“The situation in Slovenia is becoming extremely worrying. We want the European Parliament’s plenary debate in March, on the Government’s attempt to silence free media in Poland and Hungary, to be extended to the situation in Slovenia”, said Dacian Cioloş, President of Renew Europe.
“The Government’s actions to challenge the fundamental freedom of press and attempts to politicise key democratic institutions must stop. These abuses are all the more worrying as Slovenia will soon hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU and as such will be expected to promote the agenda and values of the Union”, he added.
Renew Europe will need guarantees from the Slovenian authorities that they are willing and able to conduct their role and defend EU values during their Presidency of the EU. Freedom of the press is one of the fundamental values of our European Union. No obstacle to this freedom can be tolerated. We call on the Slovenian authorities to come to their senses.
MEP Irena Joveva, in the name of the Renew Europe Slovenian Delegation said: “A coordinated campaign of the Slovenian government by verbal abuses against journalists, constant pressure with proposed changes to media laws, and the blackmailing of the Slovenian press agency, with the halting state funding has had a chilling effect on media freedom in Slovenia. The government of Janez Janša must immediately stop any actions against independent media and comply with the law. Europe cannot afford another democratic backsliding of its member states.”
