Copyright timesofmalta
Nationalist MEP David Casa has slammed the “lengthy delays” for media reform as he submitted concrete proposals to the government saying the ball was in its court to improve journalists’ working environment. “Eight years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, after countless calls from journalists, international organisations, European institutions, and the public inquiry into her assassination, the ball is well in the Maltese government’s court for effective action to improve the working environment of journalists,” Casa said. A public consultation on media reform launched by the ministry for justice and reform is scheduled to close on Friday. Casa, who is the head of the PN delegation within the European Parliament, criticised the government for its “lengthy delays” in implementing the reform. He supported the authoritative call by a large number of press organisations issued on the anniversary of Daphne’s assassination adding that “it has been clear for years what the government needs to do to improve journalists’ working environment”. Among other measures, Casa called for constitutional protection, extending anti-SLAPP protections to purely domestic cases, the full implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, the bona fide implementation of the conclusions of the Daphne inquiry, a stronger Freedom of Information regime that reduces arbitrary decisions, and an effective police response to threats to journalists and action for their stories. Casa emphasised that “any meaningful reform in recent years has come from Europe, not from Castille. Journalists are more protected from SLAPP suits because of relentless domestic and international pressure — not because the Government finally recognised its duty to protect journalists." “The blueprint has existed since Daphne’s murder. Civil society, the media, and European partners have been spelling it out for eight years. The only missing element has been this government's political will. “The government’s record on media freedom is one of delay, obstruction, and spin,” Casa said. “This consultation must not become another box-ticking exercise. The ball is — yet again — in the Maltese government's court.” Casa was the first MEP to campaign for European legislation against SLAPPs. The Nationalist Party also submitted its official feedback to the government's public consultation calling for the full implementation of the recommendations of the public inquiry into Daphne's assassination. In a statement, the shadow minister for public broadcasting Graziella Attard Previ called on the independent appointment of media boards, the introduction of legal mechanisms against abusive lawsuits targeting journalists, and the mandatory publication of all financial agreements between the government and media organisations. "Media reform must be a reform for the country, not for the government," Attard Previ said.
