MEP and Head of the Maltese EPP Delegation David Casa called for public scrutiny of SLAPP suits to remain high, claiming that "the reputational cost of filing SLAPP suits will help to dissuade them from being filed in the first place."

Casa spoke following the announcement of the 5 "winners" of the European SLAPP Contest 2025, organised by CASE, a coalition of non-governmental organisations from across Europe working against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

Casa was one of five MEPs selected to be jurists for the Awards based on their track record of staunchly advocating for protections for journalists against SLAPP cases. In 2018, he was the first MEP to call for a directive against abusive court proceedings targeting journalists.

"The awards are a vital reminder of the destructive effect of SLAPPs, and the fact that despite the historic achievements we have made in the fight for a stronger press, this remains an ongoing battle," Casa stated.

"We have a Directive in place that is already working. But we must remain proactive in identifying them and exposing abusive litigation when we recognise it. Those with something to hide should not be allowed to abuse legal systems to bully their critics and silence them."

"This advocacy serves to deliver to bullies exactly what they are seeking to avoid: exposure."

The winners were:

1- Corporate Bully Of The Year: Clean Tech International (Romania)

2- SLAPP Politician Of The Year: Rachida Dati, minister of Culture (France)

3- Farcical Threat Of The Year: Signature Clinic (UK)

4- International Bully Of The Year: Energy Transfer (US/Netherlands)

5- SLAPP addict Of The Year: ENI (Italy)