The European Charter on Freedom of the Press is a non-binding guideline on press freedom, signed on 25 May 2009 in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

by 48 editors-in-chief and leading journalists from 19 European countries. It is open for signature by all journalists, e.g. the prohibition of

censorship Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

, free access to national and foreign media sources and freedom to gather and disseminate information.

Content

The Charter condense in 10 articles the main

media freedom Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exerci ...

principles, including the right to safety from surveillance, electronic eavesdropping and searches of editorial departments and computers, and remarks the need for unimpeded access for journalists and citizens to all domestic and foreign sources of information. It formulates the main values that public authorities - including EU institutions - should respect when dealing with journalists.

History

The idea of the Charter was born in 2007 out of the yearly policy dialogue which started in 2005 between

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...

Viviane Reding Viviane Adélaïde Reding (born 27 April 1951) is a Luxembourgish politician and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Luxembourg. She is a member of the Christian Social People's Party, part of the European People's Party. She p ...

(assisted by the Commission's Media Task Force) and the editors-in-chief of European newspapers, headed by '' Sterns Hans-Ulrich Jörges. The Charter was handed to the

in Brussels on 9 June 2009 and to the Council of Europe in Luxembourg on 26 October 2009, with the aim that it may become a benchmark in their assessment exercises on

in member and candidate countries, and that it may empower journalists across Europe in their relations with state authorities.

Initial Signers of the Charter

Source:

References

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External links

European Charter on Freedom of the Press
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom Freedom of the press Mass media regulation 2009 documents

Content

History

Initial Signers of the Charter

See also

References

External links