Recommendation 2097 (2017)

Attacks against journalists and media freedom in Europe

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 24 January 2017 (4th Sitting) (see Doc. 14229, report of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, rapporteur: Mr Volodymyr Ariev). Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 January 2017 (4th Sitting).

1. Recalling its Resolution 2141 (2017) on attacks against journalists and media freedom in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly thanks the Committee of Ministers for having established the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, which is a unique tool for professional media organisations to alert the Council of Europe to serious attacks against media freedom and for governments of member States to respond to these alerts through the Committee of Ministers.

2. With regard to the high number of serious cases brought to the attention of member States through this platform, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

2.1. allocate adequate resources to the functioning of the platform, enabling targeted follow-up to the alerts;

2.2. remind member States of their commitment under Article 3 of the Statute of the Council of Europe (ETS No. 1) to co-operate sincerely and effectively in the realisation of the work of the platform;

2.3. include Belarus in the countries addressed by the platform.

3. In view of the serious threats to media freedom in conflict zones in member States and under the states of emergency declared by member States, the Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to hold a thematic debate on this subject and stands ready to co-operate in such a debate.