16 Amendments of Morten LØKKEGAARD related to 2017/2209(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that access to quality, free and independent information is a fundamental human right, that media pluralism is the pillar of democracy and that the media’spart of the rights and principles enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and in the European Convention of Human Rights; the diversity of media and their independence from political and economic powers and influences must be guaranteed accordingly;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that measures to ensure an independent, diverse and transparent media landscape should be taken and that all Member States should promote freedom of expression, protect a well- informed public opinion, and guarantee that journalists and media professionals can carry out their work to the highest standards;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the formation of public opinion is based upon a social pact between citizens and media professionals aimed at influencing those in power for the purposes of general interest; nNotes with the gravest concern that the financing system for the press has collapsed, resulting in dominant media players using information to pursue political and commercial propaganda objectives, thereby dramatically lowering the quality of information and giving rise to phenomena such as ‘fake news’; warns about the interference of foreign powers in Member States’ internal affairs, be it through propaganda campaigns or disinformation, in order to weaken the Union and threaten our democratic systems, while trying to interfere in the electoral processes;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that while strengthening the access of individuals to information in general, the emergence of social media has increased the risk of manipulated narratives, false stories and deliberate misinformation, commonly referred to as ‘fake news’ being disseminated; underlines the threat posed to the relationship of trust between the media and citizens; stresses how it harms trust in information in general and thereby poses a fundamental threat to liberal democracies;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that media professionals play a crucial role in the formation of public opinion; emphasises that independent media professionals are vital for the countering of deliberate misinformation and for the identification and debunking of ‘fake news’; calls, therefore, on the Commission and Member States to strengthen financial and legal support to independently operated media and investigative journalism organisations, while refraining from involvement in editorial decisions;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that online media pluralism is under serious threat from the excessive concentration of corporate power; asksthe use of digital media has led to new opportunities as well as new challenges to media freedom and pluralism; calls on the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to overcome regulatory deficiencies in order to create legal clarity and consistency to ensure media freedom and prevent the abuse of their dominant position by web giants;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that online media pluralism is under serious threat from the excessive concentration of corporate power; asksthe use of digital media has led to new challenges and opportunities for media freedom and pluralism; calls on the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to overcome regulatory deficiencies in order to create legal clarity and consistency to ensure media freedom and prevent the abuse of their dominant position by web giants;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to establish an EU-wide system of statutory self-regulation to ensure that media actors engage, negotiate and institute their own ethical standards for online information - without direct political involvement;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Notes that much of the information that traditional media outlets produce is now available both online and on traditional platforms, and that these therefore remain subject to national media regulations; recalls that this is not the case for strictly online media platforms, leading to unfair competition between strictly online media and traditional media outlets; notes that similar services with similar features should have similar regulations; calls for harmonisation of rules and media regulations to ensure a level playing field;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the fact that freedom of information in Europe is being jeopardised by increasing intimidation of and acts of aggression against journalists, as proven by the recent murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises that principles of media freedom, freedom of speech and media pluralism are as relevant for pre- accession countries and the European Neighbourhood area as it is for Member States; calls on the Commission to ensure that these principles are strengthened and adequately monitored in these countries and that assistance programs are made contingent upon adherence to these principles;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Highlights the need for Member States to complement EU efforts to counter fake news and to engage at all levels, including in cooperation with the EU neighbourhood, to foster a pluralistic media environment to communicate EU policies truthfully, coherently and comprehensively,
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need to preserve the independence and pluralism of publicly- owned media and to prevent any form of political interference, censorship or use of such media as a vehicle for propaganda and indoctrination;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Emphasizes that principles of media freedom, freedom of speech and media pluralism are as relevant for pre- accession countries and the European Neighbourhood area as it is for member states; calls on the Commission to ensure that these principles are strengthened and adequately monitored in these countries and that assistance programs are made contingent upon adherence to these principles.
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Denounces how fake news may fuel social tensions and contribute to distort information on regional and national politics in the EU; calls therefore for media independence and transparency as preconditions and essential safeguards of a well-functioning European democracy.