FT op-ed: The EU must not lose its nerve on Slapps and honour ‘Daphne's Law’

In February 2018, MEPs David Casa (EPP), Ana Gomes (S&D), and Monica Macovei (ECR), Maite Pagazaurtundúa (ALDE), Stelios Kouloglou (GUE) and Benedek Jávor (Greens-EFA), called on European Commission Vice-President Timmermans to propose Anti-SLAPP legislation. In April 2022, Vice-President Věra Jourová announced anti-Slapp measures including a draft directive that she nicknamed “Daphne’s Law”. In early June this year, governments at the Council of the EU agreed a “general approach” to negotiations on the anti-SLAPP directive which removes key elements of the European Commission’s original initiative. The tragedy of the Council’s compromise on “Daphne’s Law” is not merely that it defeats its spirit or betrays the promise made to Daphne’s family, but that what is left of it would not have protected her. It is also a deep disservice to Daphne’s peers across Europe who continue to inform the public at great personal risk.

See the full op-ed by Andrew Caruana Galizia published in the Financial Times on 28 June 2023.