• EL - ελληνικά
  • EN - English
Parliamentary question - E-002176/2021Parliamentary question
E-002176/2021

Systematic censorship and economic manipulation of the media in Greece

Question for written answer  E-002176/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stelios Kouloglou (The Left)

On 19 April, a Greek public broadcasting journalist complained that her investigations were being repeatedly censored, culminating with a broadcast on the subject of censorship on the social networks. Similar incidents have occurred with regard to investigative reports on the situation in refugee camps, for example, or even on works of art. On 16 April, two Members of the governing party tabled a question in Parliament seeking an explanation regarding a satirical song performed on a public television entertainment channel.[1]

On 19 April, ‘Reporters Without Borders’ indicated in their annual report that Greece had fallen to 70th place in the world league table regarding freedom of the press, pointing to arrests of journalists and acts of violence perpetrated against them, in addition to selective government funding. ‘Reports by investigative journalists and media content critical of the government received either nothing or a disproportionately small share of the tens of millions of euros being earmarked for the controversial public COVID awareness campaigns’[2]. This is in breach of competition rules, since public broadcasting is also eligible for funding[3].

In view of this:

Can the Commission say whether Greek government policy in this respect is in line with the EU principles of media freedom?

What measures will it take in order to restore a level playing field?

Last updated: 6 May 2021
Legal notice - Privacy policy