Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001622/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
‘Media freedom and pluralism are a vital part of democracy and of the fundamental rights of EU citizens. True democracy is not possible without a free media scrutinising those in power. The media is a key pillar in the checks and balances that underpin democratic rule. That’s why the descent into authoritarian rule often starts with independent media being targeted. Over the last few decades, a number of states across the globe have taken this path, using coercion and often violence to persecute media outlets and individual journalists’[1] – quoted from the European Council website. This quote perfectly reflects the situation in Poland under the government of Donald Tusk.
In light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission’s silence regarding the unlawful, forceful takeover of public service media using secret service methods, such as switching off the television signal[2], and the systemic destruction of opposition media through attempts to withdraw concessions[3], pressure advertisers[4], refuse admission to press conferences (including during life-threatening emergencies, such as flooding[5]) and the use of aggression and violence against journalists[6] not constitute an authorisation to destroy democracy in a Member State?
- 2.Does the Commission consider that the system described by Donald Tusk as ‘militant democracy’, which includes the drastic examples of the destruction of media freedom and pluralism described above, to be in line with the values of the Union which the Commission is so eager to invoke?
- 3.Is the Commission aware that Civic Platform is violating the law, including electoral rules, by discriminating against candidates and using public television and its resources to organise electoral agitation, as happened on 11 April in Końskie[7]?
Submitted: 23.4.2025
- [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/media-freedom-eu/
- [2] https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/wylaczono-nadawanie-kanalu-tvp-info-oraz-portalu-tvp-info-muller-nielegalne
- [3] https://sdp.pl/zamach-na-wolnosc-slowa-cmwp-sdp-w-obronie-koncesji-naziemnej-dla-telewizji-republika-i-w-polsce24/
- [4] https://www.press.pl/tresc/80495,prawicowi-dziennikarze-protestuja-przeciw-zastraszaniu-reklamodawcow-telewizji-republika_-podpisal-sie-tez-tomasz-sakiewicz
- [5] https://www.press.pl/tresc/83971,prokuratura-wszczela-dochodzenie-ws_-niewpuszczania-dziennikarzy-republiki-na-konferencje-premiera https://biznesalert.pl/krrit-zlozyla-zawiadomienie-do-prokuratury-chodzi-o-informowanie-mediow-podczas-powodzi/
- [6] https://sdp.pl/sdp-zlozy-do-prokuratury-ws-poturbowania-dziennikarza-tv-republika-podczas-wiecu-wyborczego-rafala-trzaskowskiego/
- [7] https://wpolityce.pl/media/726640-szef-krrit-pisze-do-pkw-ws-udzialu-tvp-w-debacie-w-konskich