10 Amendments of Sabine VERHEYEN related to 2017/2209(INI)
Amendment 3 #
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’s independence from political and economic powers and influences must be guaranteed accordinglyforms part of freedom of expression as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and is a pillar of democracy and that the media’s independence from political and economic powers must be guaranteed accordingly; recalls that the independence of media should be guaranteed by such powers in order to avoid any harassment or intimidation in such a way that influence the editorial content;
Amendment 7 #
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’s independence from political and economic powers and undue influences must be guaranteed accordingly;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the formation of public opinion is based upon a social pacrelation of trust between citizens and media professionals aimed at influencorming those in powere public for the purposes of general interest; notes 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,threatening media pluralism as well as the quality of information; salutes therefore the proposal of the Commission to provide news publishers with the right to authorise the reby dramatically lowering the quality of information and giving rise to phenomena such as ‘fake news’production and making available of their press publications online, in order to favour a balanced relationship with online business players and the fair share of the revenues generated by press publications online;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that Member States should find ways to support media, by ensuring for example VAT neutrality as recommended in the resolution of the European Parliament of 13 October 2011 on the future of VAT , and by supporting initiatives related to media;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that online media pluralism, is under serious threat from thencluding in the online sphere, is under threat, especially when their ownership is excessively concentration of corporate powered; asks 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 theirfrom dominant position by web giantlayers;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that online media pluralism is under serious threat from the excessive concentration of corporate power; asks 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 since this would also run counter to the very concept of media pluralism; stresses in this regard that media ownership structures must be transparent and that national regulatory authorities shall monitor this aspect in particular;
Amendment 58 #
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 Galiziaassassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia; reiterates in this regard that Member States have to safeguard the fundamental human right of freedom of expression of journalists to impart information by ensuring the protection and the facilitation of their work, as well as the fundamental right of the general public to receive that same information; emphasises the particular situation of investigative journalists, as well as the protection of the sources of all journalists;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that media professionals often work in precarious conditions with regard to their contracts, salaries and social guarantees, which compromises their ability to work appropriately and thus hampers media freedom; is therefore concerned by the replacement of professional and trained journalists by less expensive freelancers and its negative consequences on quality journalism;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that a criticaldeveloping a sense of critical appraisal and analysis with regard to the use of media content is essential to people’s understanding of current issues, to being able to recognise professional and responsible journalism, and to their contribution to public life; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to promote and support media literacy projects and in particular to ensure that media literacy will be an integral part of the European Union’s education policy.
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates the need to maintain strong and vibrant independent public broadcasting service that is impartial from political interference, to ensure that the public is duly informed; emphasises that in this context, this need is more important than ever before to safeguard media pluralism and freedom in the European Union as well as democracy.