As part of our campaign to convince the European Parliament to take a position on the risk of a violation to media freedom and pluralism in Italy, we have published an open letter of MEPs in leading European newspapers, including the UK’s The Guardian and Italy’s La Repubblica.

Violation of Media Freedom in Italy is a European Problem Demanding a European Response

Italy is the only Western democracy where the prime minister exercises direct control over three television channels he owns and indirect control over three public channels, as well as owning several newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and the largest publishing house in the country. The Prime Minister has recently sued several European newspapers from Italy, France, and Spain.

The European Parliament is studying the possibility of taking a position on the risk of a violation to media freedom and pluralism in Italy, and has called a first plenary assembly for October 7th, in Brussels, to discuss the issue. On the 22nd of October a vote will take place on a resolution, and we urge our fellow MEPs to support it.
On Saturday the 3rd of October demonstrations for media freedom are taking place in Rome, Paris, London, and other European cities, providing evidence of a wide public desire for action on this issue.

The European Institutions have the authority to condemn intimidation of the press in Italy, and potentially to open legal proceedings according to Article 7 of the Treaties. This authority should be exercised to guarantee that the fundamental right to freedom of information is respected in Europe and in the world.

Lack of a European response to the intimidation of the press in Italy poses a direct threat to the right of liberty of expression throughout the European Union, puts in jeopardy progress in former Soviet countries admitted into the Union, and limits the authority of any European condemnation of censorship in the rest of the world.

Lorenzo Marsili and Niccolo Milanese (Directors, European Alternatives)

The following signatories are amongst the supporters of the European Campaign for Media Freedom in Italy (www.freepresseurope.eu), organised by independent organization European Alterntarives.

Sarah Ludford MEP (UK)
Claude Moraes, MEP (UK)
Rosario Crocetta MEP (Italy)
Sonia Alfano MEP (Italy)
Luigi de Magistris MEP (Italy)
Gianni Vattimo MEP (Italy)
Judith Sargentini MEP (Netherlands)
Sylvie Guillaume MEP (France)
Vincent Peillon MEP (France)
Isabelle Durant MEP (Belgium)
Bart Staes MEP (Belgium)
Eva Lichtenberger MEP (Austria)
Pascal Canfin MEP (France)
Jan Philipp Albrecht MEP (Germany)
Hélène Flautre MEP (France)
Marije Cornelissen MEP (Netherlands)
Bas Eickhout MEP (Netherlands)
Caroline Lucas MEP (UK)
Catherine Greze MEP (France)
Franziska Keller MEP (Germany)
Emilie Turunen MEP (Denmark)