"Per promuovere una vera libertà di stampa, le autorità pubbliche devono svolgere un ruolo preciso: devono essere pronte a proteggere la libertà di espressione e a favorirne lo sviluppo", ha dichiarato Viviane Reding, commissaria responsabile della società dell'informazione e dei media.

Hans-Ulrich Jörges, caporedattore della rivista tedesca Stern e promotore della Carta, ringraziando la commissaria ha aggiunto: "L'obiettivo principale della Carta è avere un'Europa unita anche nel settore del giornalismo e offrire a tutti i colleghi la possibilità di invocarne i principi in caso di violazioni della libertà di stampa".

I dieci articoli della Carta delineano i principi fondamentali che i governi devono rispettare nei rapporti con i giornalisti, fra cui il divieto della censura, la libertà di accesso alle fonti di informazione nazionali e straniere e la libertà di ottenere e diffondere le informazioni. La Carta sottolinea inoltre la protezione dei giornalisti dai tentativi di vigilanza e auspica un sistema giudiziario efficace per tutelare i diritti dei giornalisti.

La Carta, che può essere consultata online e firmata dai giornalisti interessati, è disponibile in otto lingue: croato, danese, francese, inglese, polacco, rumeno, russo e tedesco. Chi si propone per tradurla anche in italiano?

__________________________________________

European Charter on Freedom of the Press

Art. 1
Freedom of the press is essential to a democratic society. All governments should uphold, protect and respect the diversity of journalistic media in all its forms and its political, social and cultural missions.

Art. 2
Censorship must be absolutely prohibited. There must be a guarantee that independent journalism in all media is free of persecution, repression and of political or regulatory interference by government. Press and online media should not be subject to state licensing.

Art. 3
The right of journalists and media to gather and disseminate information and opinions must not be threatened, restricted or be made subject to punishment.

Art. 4
The protection of journalistic sources shall be strictly upheld. Searches of newsrooms and other premises of journalists and the surveillance or interception of journalists' communications with the aim of identifying sources of information or infringing on editorial confidentiality are unacceptable.

Art. 5
All states must ensure that the media enjoys the full protection of an independent judiciary system and the authorities while carrying out their role. This applies in particular to defending journalists and their staff from physical attack and harassment.Violations of these rights and any threats to violate these rights must be carefully investigated and punished by the judiciary.

Art. 6
The economic livelihood and independence of the media must not be endangered by the state, by state-controlled institutions or other organisations. The threat of economic sanctions is unacceptable. Private enterprise has to respect the independence of the media and refrain from exercising pressure and from trying to blur the lines between advertising and editorial content.

Art. 7
The state and state-controlled institutions shall not hinder the freedom of access of journalists and the media to information. They are obliged to support them in their mandate to provide information.

Art. 8
Media and journalists have a right to unimpeded access to all news and information sources, including those from abroad. For their reporting, foreign journalists must be provided with visas, accreditation and other required documents without delay.

Art. 9
The public of any state shall be granted free access to all national and foreign media and sources of information.

Art. 10
The state shall not restrict entry into the profession of journalism.