 |
Articles in this category:  28.11.2007 / Success for sustaining PRESS FREEDOM in the EU
click to close On 27 November the European Court of Human Rights confirmed that searches of journalist offices and private homes cannot be justified by “vague, unconfirmed rumours” as it was the case in March 2004 with the German journalists Hans-Martin Tillack. The journalist of the German monthly news magazine Stern Hans-Martin Tillack, who presented his case at the FAEP Media Lounge in April 2006 in the European Parliament, finally won his case at the European Court of Human Rights. On Tuesday, 27 November 2007 the Court has declared the searches and seizures carried out in Tillack’s home and office in Brussels on 19 March 2004 illegal.
The ECHR underlines that the protection of sources is „one of the corner stones of the freedom of the press“. The Court states that the suspicion of corruption which the EU Anti-Fraud-Office OLAF had launched against Tillack was based „on vague, unconfirmed rumours“ and could therefore not serve as a basis to justify the searches.
The Court also underlines the wide scope of the seizures with 16 boxes of documents, two archive boxes, two computers, four mobile phones etc. One box got even lost in the Belgian police premises during several months.
At the FAEP Media Lounge in April 2006, Hans-Martin Tillack challenged Commissioner Frattini on the issue “global fight against terrorism: is press freedom under threat?” and addressed the protection of sources as one key element of press freedom.
The decision of the ECHR is very encouraging and confirms the important role of the press in the EU. FAEP will therefore continue defending press freedom across the EU by creating public platforms in Brussels to raise infringements of press freedom in the EU and working on a press freedom charter that sets the standards for EU politicians.
click to close |
