Daphne-Inspired Anti-SLAPP Directive Officially Becomes EU Law
Six years and six months after the tragic assassination of Maltesse investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the anti-SLAPP directive inspired by the 48 abusive lawsuits that Caruana Galizia faced officially became EU law yesterday.
“It is now up to Malta’s government and Parliament to ensure this happens without compromising the spirit and standards of Daphne’s Law,” the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation wrote on social media.
The European Union’s anti-SLAPP directive was adopted by the European Parliament on 27th February and yesterday, it was published in the Official EU Gazette.
Daphne’s Law sets minimum standards for protecting journalists, activists, academics, and other public watchdogs against abusive litigation across the EU.
Malta now has 24 months to transpose the provisions of the directive into national legislation, as a first step to ensuring the law will no longer be weaponised to silence critics.
“The EU’s anti-SLAPP directive was brought about by a coalition in Malta and beyond, inspired by the horrific experience of Daphne Caruana Galizia who faced 48 abusive lawsuits at the time of her assassination, some of which are still active more than six years and six months after her death,” the Foundation said.
National legislation across the union must now meet or exceed the standards set by Daphne’s Law; this includes the training of the judiciary and lawyers, to ensure that the anti-SLAPP system is robust.
The Foundation further remarked that Malta promised to be the first European country to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation while Prime Minister Robert Abela recently said he would like the directive to be implemented as soon as possible.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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