The Republic of Cyprus does not endorse the surveillance of journalists, stated President Christodoulides in an interview with Euronews on Friday.
When questioned about the discussions surrounding the provision in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) which allows governments to surveil journalists under the banner of national security, President Christodoulides emphasised his sensitivity to journalistic issues and the unhindered functioning of the journalistic profession.
“It (journalism) is a public service, and under no circumstances does the Republic of Cyprus support the monitoring of journalists,” he affirmed.
The President added that he raised this matter with the President of the European Council because, during the briefing to the European Council, this issue was not on the agenda.
“It was not there yesterday, and I immediately raised it myself with Mrs Metsola, posing my question and conveying the position of the Republic of Cyprus on the tightening of these specific regulations because the issue is in the European Parliament. There is an ongoing discussion at the association level, and I, personally, I repeat, was not part of the discussion. I raised a question and conveyed the position of the Republic of Cyprus. There is no intention of surveillance; this is Nicosia’s approach to such a phenomenon in 2023,” he stated.
Documents obtained from a European Council meeting in November show that Cyprus is among seven governments supporting broader wording in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) which would permit the use of spyware if deemed necessary for “national security”.
This comes after the European Council published its draft proposal in June, which first included a reference to a “national security” exemption. The development was met with a wave of criticism from journalists, civil society and MEPs. Reporters Without Borders described it as a “dangerous provision, which would poison the law from within”.
“Governments have no business being on journalists’ phones. We in the European Parliament have made provisions for this. It is unacceptable that member states are now trying to reintroduce this snooping paragraph through the back door,” German Green MEP Daniel Freund, who is involved in the ongoing negotiations, told Investigate Europe.
Right-wing French politician Geoffroy Didier has repeatedly asked the Macron government “to abandon their plan to legally spy on journalists. This European regulation must protect pluralism, not authorise spying,” he said.
The Cyprus Union of Journalists has called the draft proposal “a threat to democracy“.
Read more:
