29/01/2025
L-IĠM b’appell lill-membri parliamentari biex jivvutaw favur emendi li jsaħħu l-liġi kontra l-iSLAPP
Fid-dawl tad-dibattitu li se jsir fil-parlament iktar t**d illum, l-IĠM jappella lill-membri parlamentari biex japprovaw l-emendi mressqa mill-Oppożizzjoni għall-avviż legali li daħħal fis-seħħ id-direttiva Ewropea kontra l-iSLAPP.
L-emendi tal-Oppżizzjoni għandhom il-ħsieb li jwessgħu l-protezzjoni għall-ġurnalisti u persuni oħra biex jinkludu wkoll kawżi SLAPP li jsiru fil-qrati Maltin.
Bħalissa l-avviż legali jipproteġi biss kontra kawżi SLAPP li jsiru fi qrati barranin u li għandhom xejra transfruntiera.
L-IĠM jemmen li hu kruċjali li l-protezzjoni kontra kawżi SLAPP tinkludi wkoll kawżi li jsiru fil-qrati Maltin.
L-emendi tal-Oppożizzjoni għandhom il-ħsieb ukoll biex jgħollu l-penali li tista’ timponi l-qorti fuq min jiftaħ kawża SLAPP għal mhux inqas minn €10,000 u mhux iktar minn € 100,000 mil-limitu eżistenti ta’ mhux aktar minn €10,000.
L-IĠM jaqbel ma’ din il-proposta għax intiża biex verament toħloq deterrent lil min irid jagħmel kawża SLAPP.
L-IĠM ifakkar li l-avviż legali anti-SLAPP li daħħal il-gvern is-sena li għaddiet jipprovdi l-minimu rikjest mill-Unjoni Ewropea u għalhekk jeħtieġ li jissaħħaħ iktar. Iż-żewġ emendi mressqa mill-Oppożizzjoni huma pass ieħor fid-direzzjoni t-tajba.
L-IĠM ifakkar ukoll fil-wegħda tal-gvern li joħroġ White Paper għal konsultazzjoni fuq diversi riformi oħra apparti l-iSLAPP, intiżi biex isaħħu l-protezzjoni tal-ġurnalisti u joħolqu ambjent xieraq għal ġurnaliżmu ħieles. Ir-riformi li hemm bżonn isiru jinkludu bidliet fil-Kostituzzjoni, fil-Liġi tal-Midja u l-Malafama, fil-Kodiċi Kriminali u liġijiet oħra.
Madankollu, minkejja li l-wegħda tal-gvern saret f’Ottubru tal-2023, b’dispjaċir ninnutaw li sal-lum din il-White Paper ma ratx id-dawl tax-xemx.
L- IĠM se tkun il-Parlament biex issegwi d-dibattitu, fl-aħjar interess tas-settur li tirrapprezenta.
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IGM appeals to members of parliament to vote in favour of amendments that strengthen anti-SLAPP legislation
In view of the debate to be held in parliament this afternoon, the IGM appeals to members of parliament to vote in favour of amendments proposed by the Opposition to the legal notice that introduced the EU anti-SLAPP directive.
The Opposition’s amendments are intended to widen the protection for journalists and other persons to include SLAPP cases instituted in Malta.
The current legal notice only offers protection from SLAPP cases instituted in foreign courts and are of a transnational nature.
IGM believes it is crucial that protection from SLAPP cases also includes cases instituted in Maltese courts.
The Opposition’s amendments also aim to increase the penalties a court can impose on the party that initiates a SLAPP case to not less than €10,000 and not more than €100,000 from the current limit of not more than €10,000.
IGM agrees with this proposal because its aim is to truly create a deterrent for those who want to initiate a SLAPP case.
The IGM underscores that the anti-SLAPP legal notice enacted by the government last year provides for the minimum required by the EU directive, which is why it has to be strengthened further. The two amendments put forward by the Opposition are another step in the right direction.
The IGM recalls the promise made by the government to issue a White Paper for consultation on other reforms apart from SLAPP, intended to strengthen the protection of journalists and create an enabling environment for unshackled journalism. The reforms needed include changes to the Constitution, the Media and Defamation Act, the Criminal Code and other laws.
Nonetheless, despite the government promsing the White Paper in October 2023, we note with regret that it has yet to see the light of day.
IGM will be present in Parliament to follow the debate, in the best interest of the sector it represents.
