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Index urges British MPs to back creation of EU special representative on...
Statement: On Thursday 12 July, British parliamentarians will vote on a government motion on whether to back the creation of a EU special representative on human rights. The position was created after...
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Do western democracies protect free speech?
In the age of social media, the European Union needs to defend free expression. But it often falls far short, says Padraig Reidy The European Union makes great play of its commitment to free...
View ArticleTop pianist tried in Turkey for “offensive” tweets
Fazil Say, a Turkish pianist and composer, was put on trial in Istanbul today (18 October) for insulting Islam in Twitter posts. The musician is charged with inciting hatred and public enmity, and with...
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Greece: Europe must defend free speech
Greek Journalist Kostas Vaxevani after his arrest for exposing alleged tax cheats – Athens – Stathis Kalligeris | Demotix The European Union has a duty to speak out against increasing censorship,...
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Not the route to free media
A recently released report from a European Union group contains recommendations that would endanger media freedom, says Kirsty Hughes This article was first published in European Voice Is “everyone...
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World Press Freedom Day: Is the European Union faltering on media freedom?
The European Union on World Press Freedom Day should be celebrating continuing press freedom across its member states and championing press freedom abroad. But instead today there is less to celebrate...
View ArticleThe EU must take action on Turkey
Index on Censorship is calling on EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle to press Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a meeting today on the need to ensure Turks can exercise freedom of...
View ArticleIndex policy paper: Is the EU heading in the right direction on digital freedom?
The internet’s rapid spread has opened up a wide range of debates, nationally and internationally, around freedom of expression online. Many governments, not only in authoritarian regimes, are...
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Germany stalls Turkey EU talks over unrest
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Prague earlier this year Germany has reportedly blocked Turkey’s next steps towards European Union membership yesterday, as unrest continues in the cities of...
View ArticleFree expression guidelines a crucial opportunity for EU
As the European Commission opens a consultation on its planned freedom of expression guidelines, Index on Censorship is publishing a public note setting out what it sees as the key principles that...
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Free speech roundup: Bahrain edition
European ministers and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members will meet on Sunday in Bahrain to discuss the future of their political and economic relations from 2013-2016. Bahrain’s free speech...
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Belarus’s cat and mouse diplomacy on human rights
Lukashenko’s government is open for dialogue with Europe. But it will expect something in return, says Andrei Aliaksandrau The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union suspended the entry ban...
View ArticleEU guidelines on religious freedom
The European Union Foreign Affairs Council last week released its guidelines on promoting and protecting religious freedom. The guidelines, designed to set standards for the EU’s external dealings,...
View ArticleEurope must take a stand on US surveillance
The revelations that the United States allegedly spied on European Union diplomats marks a low in what should be a special relationship of trust between major democracies. The EU needs to remind the...
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Croatia has more work to do on free expression
At the stroke of midnight on Sunday, Croatia officially became the 28th member of the European Union. Croatia will be a “serious, responsible and active member”, said President Ivo Josipovic as he...
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Europe divided over mass surveillance?
There have been some sharply contrasting political reactions to the US and UK’s mass surveillance programmes in European countries in recent days. Could the US perhaps play divide and rule in managing...
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Europe can lead the fight against surveillance
(Photo: David von Blohn / Demotix) This article was originally published at Indy Voices What’s happened to Edward Snowden and his revelations about the National Security Agency’s surveillance...
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Europe really, really doesn’t trust the NSA
NSA operations center in 2012 (Photo: Public Domain) A few days ago the European Parliament’s Office of Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs released a notably pointed briefing paper arguing...
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EU and Belarus: Applying the “goat principle”
An old Belarusian joke suggests a simple way of improving one’s life. If you feel unhappy, just allow a goat in your house, live with it for some time, and then take the goat away. In principle,...
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Djukanovic’s double dealing on the media
Montenegro is first in line after Croatia to enter the EU, according to some European politicians and parliamentarians; a leader in the Balkan region. But the country’s press is under attack, with...
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