Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, has confirmed the accuracy of today’s headline story on Phileleftheros shedding light on the proposed European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and its implications for media regulation in Europe.
Letymbiotis clarified that Cyprus is actively supporting the regulation, which entails specific conditions for surveilling journalists.
However, addressing concerns raised by leaked documents suggesting Cyprus favours journalist surveillance, Letymbiotis stressed that the leaked information does not represent the official stance of the Republic of Cyprus. He urged a clarification of the official position to avoid any potential misunderstandings.
In his regular media briefing at the Presidential Palace today, Letymbiotis initially discussed the ongoing protest by potato and wheat producers and their associated demands.
Responding to inquiries about Cyprus’s consent to a regulation proposed by the Spanish Presidency of the EU, Letymbiotis stated, “The information is sourced from an internal European Commission document and does not reflect reality. Currently, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council are discussing the European Media Freedom Act, aimed at protecting media. Cyprus, along with 24 other member states, supports Article 4, protecting journalistic sources and prohibiting monitoring software use, except for serious crime investigations and under stringent conditions.”
Regarding concerns about journalist threats, Letymbiotis clarified, “It’s not about journalists or the government. The discussion involves exceptions in exceptional cases related to national security or terrorism. Cyprus has specific proposals and strong security clauses to protect the media.”
He emphasised, “The ongoing discussion focuses on protecting the media to ensure pluralism and press freedom. The leaked document does not reflect Cyprus’s position, and seeking the official stance would prevent potential misunderstandings from arising.”
In response to questions about the need for judicial intervention, Letymbiotis explained, “At the Committee session on November 22, Cyprus, alongside the Spanish Presidency, supported two security clauses for journalists: the obligation for prior judicial authorization for surveillance and periodic reviews of intrusive software usage.”
He concluded, “These provisions are not limited to journalists but aim to protect the media and their operators. It’s part of a broader EU effort to safeguard media independence, a discussion initiated two years ago in the Committee and now continuing at the European Parliament level.”
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