EU. Appeal to the 27 governments for an ambitious budget for journalism and rights

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Signed by 15 European associations, including Ossigeno, also calls for future disbursements to be subject to respect for democracy and the rule of law

Fifteen organizations committed to defending press freedom, media development and journalism ask the governments of Italy and other EU member states to commit themselves to ensuring that the EU adopts an ambitious budget, with funds for independent journalism and the recovery of the media sector. The request is formulated in a joint declaration signed by Ossigeno per l’Informazione (Ossigeno.info) together with the other 14 organizations. This is the complete list in alphabetical order: Article 19, Association of European Journalists (AEJ), DW Akademie, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Fondation Hirondelle, Free Press Unlimited, Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), International Media Support (IMS), International Press Institute (IPI), Internews, Media Diversity Institute (MDI), Ossigeno per l’Informazione (oxygen.info), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. (WAN-IFRA).

“The next few weeks – the signatory organizations say – will be marked by important negotiations between the EU Member States in order to start promptly the new multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (Multiannual Financial Framework MFF) . In this context, we urge them to:

• Use the Next Generation Europe fund to ensure the survival of journalism and the media sector

• Condition the allocation and payment of EU funds to respect for the rule of law

• Double the budget proposed for the Creative Europe fund in order to support the independence of the media sector

• Strengthen the Justice and Rights & Values ​​programme to protect journalists

• Channel greater support to the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) by giving priority to respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

ASP

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