Does Christodoulides government want to legalise the surveillance of journalists?

 

 

12 December 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

 

The Christodoulides government needs to confirm or deny in a convincing manner the press reports whether it supports in the EU negotiations on the provisions of the Media Freedom Regulation that legalise the surveillance of journalists. In other words, it must give an answer to journalists themselves and society in general as to what position it will take on the controversial provision in the original text of the proposed Regulation which permits the surveillance of journalists on the grounds of national security.

It must also give an answer why it has not yet responded to the recommendations of the European Parliament’s PEGA Committee, which urged it to investigate, with the help of EUROPOL, the allegations of surveillance/wiretapping of journalists and other citizens of the country and to make public the report of the special investigator on the black spy van.

Not only did these things not happen – given that they would obviously expose the Anastasiades-DISY government – but the Christodoulides government is alleged by the international and domestic press to be supporting positions that are dangerous for press freedom and democracy itself, both in Cyprus and in Europe.