The European Parliament wants to strengthen the protection of journalists against unfounded and abusive trials

MEPs adopted their negotiating position on new rules to protect those dealing with matters of public interest, such as fundamental rights, the activities of civil servants or allegations of corruption.

The new rules must be applied in cross-border cases where the defendant, the claimant and the court are not based in the same country or when the act of participation is public, be it a press article, a post on social media platforms, a video or a research document, has relevance for several Member States and can be accessed electronically.

The draft directive provides guarantees for victims of unfounded and abusive lawsuits, including the possibility to request early dismissal of the lawsuit, in which case the plaintiff will have the task of proving the legitimacy of his case before the court.

In this case, the claimant will also have to cover all the costs of the proceedings, including the defendant's legal representation and pay penalties, while the victim of these unfounded and abusive lawsuits will be able to claim damages, including for psychological or reputational damages too.

Translated by: Radu Matei