EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/501

(2004/C 88 E/0512)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/04

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Freedom of the press in Russia

A growing amount of evidence has been provided by several independent organisations that serious infringements of freedom of the press have been committed during Mr Putin's presidency including use of the law against the free press, the murder and imprisonment of journalists and the closure of and threats against the media.

The attacks have been primarily aimed at journalists and media dealing with the situation in Chechnya, corruption, abuse of power and supporting the views of President Putin's political opponents.

Mr Putin's government has now also made attacks on freedom of the press part of his visa policy.

The Danish journalist, Vibeke Sperling, who has been a correspondent in the Soviet Union and Russia for Danish Radio and several national newspapers — most recently Politiken — since the early 1980s, has now been refused a Russian visa. Neither the Russian Foreign Minister nor the Russian ambassador in Copenhagen has been willing to state the reason for rejecting the visa application. The democratic development of Russia is a matter of deep concern in recent years.

What steps does the Commission intend to take in response to the Russian Government's increasing restrictions on freedom of the press in Russia, including the rejection of applications for visas for correspondents whom European media wish to station in Russia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

The Commission is concerned at reports of infringements of the freedom of the press in Russia and is closely following developments, including with regard to the specific case of Ms Sperling, of which the Commission is aware. Although the decision to grant a visa or not is the prerogative of Russia, it is most regrettable that Russia has chosen to act in this restrictive and opaque manner. In this regard, the Commission recalls the public declaration of concern on media freedom issued by the EU in July 2003.

In its recent Communication on relations with Russia, the Commission underlined the need for the EU to hold an open and frank dialogue, in order to insist that Russia respect the values to which it is committed as a member of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Council of Europe, such as respect for human rights and media freedom. These issues are frequently raised in the political dialogue which the EU holds with the Russian authorities.

The Commission's activity is not limited to political dialogue. In view of its concerns on media freedom, the Commission considers it all the more important to support the development of an independent and pluralistic media in Russia. Under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) 2004 call for proposals, for example, freedom of the media has been identified as a thematic priority. The Commission intends to target a number of activities, including support to enhance freedom of expression and independent media, in particular at regional level; strengthening professionalism and ethics in Russian journalism; strengthening the legal and institutional framework for the protection of press freedom; empowering journalists to take actions in defence of their rights; improving the quality of management of the media, aiming at ensuring financial viability, tax law compliance, and ultimately de facto independence; supporting local community independent media and improving the quality and coverage of human rights issues in the media.