On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the ALDE Group in the European Parliament expresses its concern about the continuing deterioration of press freedom and media pluralism around the globe. The latest world press freedom index issued by Reporters Without Borders, which ranks 180 countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists, illustrates an increase in the number of countries where press freedom faces grave threat.
MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Liberal Movement of Lithuania), ALDE Group’s coordinator in Subcommittee on Human Rights, said:
“A free press and well informed citizens are essential for every democracy. However, the information warfare by third states and populist forces, the use of fake news and geopolitical propaganda poses a grave threat both to democracy and individual freedoms. I am convinced the EU needs to step up its efforts to fight back by exposing disinformation and supporting professional journalism and media literacy. In times of political uncertainty, we have to ensure our citizens can trust the press and make informed political decisions.”
