A European Parliamentary resolution expected to pass this Thursday includes a call for the introduction of a dedicated budget in support of independent investigative journalism, and also includes a call for a regular process of monitoring and dialogue involving all member states, in order to safeguard the EU’s basic values of democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law.

The draft resolution, seen by The Malta Independent, read that the European Parliament “calls on the Commission to create a permanent financial support scheme including a dedicated budget… in support of independent investigative journalism.” Sources within the EU said that this would help media houses across Europe continue to provide quality journalism. The draft resolution was negotiated by Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola for the EPP Group.

This Thursday’s resolution is on the protection of investigative journalists in Europe, with a main focus on the case of Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová. It does however, have calls for actions of a wider scope.

As for the process of monitoring and dialogue in order to safeguard the EU’s basic values of democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law, the MEPs would call for the involvement of the Council, the Commission and Parliament, “as proposed in its resolution of 25 October 2016 on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (the DRF Pact)”

A European Parliament press statement back on 25 October 2016 on the matter read: “to end the current ‘crisis-driven’ approach to perceived breaches of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in EU member states, the EU Commission should set up a binding EU mechanism to monitor and report annually on their records in these fields.” The DRF mechanism was meant to ensure that all EU member states respect the values enshrined in the EU treaties and set clear, evidence-based and non-political criteria for assessing their records on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in a systematic way and on an equal footing.

Thursday’s draft resolution also acknowledges the crucial role that investigative journalists can play as watchdogs for democracy and the rule of law, and “condemns insulting comments by EU politicians towards journalists.” It  notes that the highest level of protection of investigative journalists and whistle-blowers is in the vital interests of society as a whole, and “encourages both the Commission and the member states to present legislative or non-legislative proposals for the protection of journalists in the EU who are regularly subject to lawsuits intended to censor their work or intimidate them, including pan-European anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) rules.” In Malta, a number of media houses were threatened by SLAPP lawsuits.

MEPs also show, through the draft, their understanding regarding the confidentiality of sources. The draft resolution “points out that whistle-blowers have proved to be a crucial resource for investigative journalism and for an independent press, and that guaranteeing the confidentiality of sources is fundamental to freedom of the press.”

The draft resolution stresses therefore, that whistle-blowers contribute to democracy, transparency of politics and the economy, and an informed public.

It “calls on the Slovak authorities, and all the member states, to ensure the protection of the personal safety and livelihoods of investigative journalists and whistleblowers; asks the Commission to propose an effective, comprehensive and horizontal EU directive on the protection of whistle-blowers.”

The draft also mentions Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, whose brutal assassination sent shockwaves throughout the country and also internationally. Through the resolution, Parliament would “call on its Conference of Presidents to present a proposal on how Parliament could honour the work of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak, and to consider renaming Parliament’s traineeship for journalists after Jan Kuciak.”

MEPs also intend to express concern over media pluralism, highlighting that media pluralism in a number of Member States “is threatened by the control of the media by political bodies or individuals or by certain commercial organisations.” The resolution underlines that, as a general principle, “governments should not abuse their position by influencing the media.”

The resolution is being backed by a number of MEPs from various political groups. Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola is one of the EPP signatories. Other signatories signed on behalf of the S&D, the ECR, ALDE, VERTS/ALE, GUE/NGL parties.

PN MEP Roberta Metsola, in comments to The Malta Independent, said that “with this resolution we have tried to identify many of the threats faced by journalists and media houses in Europe, whether these are threats to their person or threats to their livelihoods.  The assassinations of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak must lead to changes. This must be a watershed moment for journalism in Europe. The culture of impunity that allowed their killings must end, their sources and whistleblowers must be protected. We need anti-SLAPP legislation and concrete whistleblower protection on a European level, particularly for a country like Malta this is essential. Seeing the action of multi-nationals operating in Malta, it is clear that not having such protection is in and of itself a threat to the proper functioning of the rule of law.”

“We also call for proper EU funding for independent journalism. Critical media is a pillar of European democracy and tradition, we cannot allow increasing budget cuts to impact on people’s right to know the truth. I have met with media houses in Malta who have told me about the huge pressures they face and I am determined to try and do something about it. I call on all MEPs to support this resolution on Thursday in the European Parliament.”