Photo by Serhiy Hipskyy on Unsplash The European Parliament has adopted new rules to protect people from unfounded or abusive court proceedings. MEPs say the measures mean that victims of powerful forces using strategic lawsuits against public participation – SLAPPs – to silence critical voices will now benefit from increased protection and safeguards in the EU. Key achievements…
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have welcomed proposals from the Commission to end the use of abusive lawsuits against journalists, NGOs and civil society in the EU. In November 2021, the European Parliament called for new EU rules to stop abusive legal action intended to intimidate and silence critical voices. A large…
A debate in Brussels discussed the annual report of the Council of Europe Platform for the safety of Journalists. The report, “Defending Press Freedom in Times of Tension and Conflict”, illustrates the dangers journalists face in their work both within the EU and beyond its borders. It covers issues including the impact of the war…
Members of the European Parliament have debated a report on the use of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Europe to silence critical voices such as NGOs, journalists, environmental and human rights defenders. MEPs will vote on the report tomorrow, ahead of an expected Commission proposal for legislation on the use of SLAPPs next…
The EU needs rules against SLAPPs (vexatious legal actions) intended to silence critical voices, according to the Parliament’s Civil Liberties and Legal Affairs committees. In a draft report endorsed on Thursday with 63 votes for, 9 against, and 10 abstentions, MEPs propose measures to counteract the threat that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) pose…
