Maltese Member of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, today submitted a written priority Parliamentary Question to the European Commission asking it to clarify how far European legislation governs the protection of journalistic sources in Member States.
The Parliamentary Question comes in the wake of the Police’s request for MaltaToday Managing Editor, Saviour Balzan to reveal confidential sources in court. In a statement, MEP Metsola said that “it is unacceptable in a democratic society that values a free and fair press, for pressure to be exerted on journalists to reveal their sources. Confidential sources are a crucial aspect of any free press and their protection is fundamental to this pillar of our society.”
In her question to the Commission, MEP Metsola also asked for a breakdown of legislation governing the protection of sources in every Member State.
“The protection of sources is essential for a free press to function and as a Member of the European Parliament’s Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, I will be closely following this issue as it develops” added Dr Metsola.
A reply to the Parliamentary Question is expected within six weeks.
