English Section

MEPs adopt resolution on media freedom, rule of law in Poland

17.09.2021 21:45
In a vote on Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on "media freedom and further deterioration of the rule of law in Poland." 
Audio
Beata Mazurek, a European lawmaker with Polands ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Beata Mazurek, a European lawmaker with Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The document criticises a media bill approved by Poland’s lower house in August, calling it "an attempt to silence critical content and a direct attack on media pluralism.”

Beata Mazurek, a European lawmaker with Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, distanced herself from the resolution. She defended the new Polish media bill, saying it was designed to help the country "protect its internal market."

“The bill is just a move to clarify an already existing law, not an attack on the media in Poland," Mazurek said.

She added: "We just want to protect our internal media market from interference by non-EU member states. This has nothing to do with violating the rule of law or attacking independent media."

Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek has the story.

Click on the audio player above to listen.