The 37th Congress of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), held from 1th to 3th December in Warsaw, adopted a resolution “On protection of democracy and freedom of speech in Ukraine”. The European Party of Ukraine and The Civic Position of Anatoliy Grytsenko became the initiators and authors of the resolution.
Here is the text of the resolution
On the Protection of Democracy and Freedom of Speech in Ukraine
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes:
•the Global Press Freedom Rankings 2015 research by FREEDOM HOUSE, Ukraine ranks 128th after Uganda, Kenya and Macedonia;
• the findings of the International human rights organisation “Reporters without Borders” in its World Press Freedom Index 2015, where Ukraine was ranking at 127th place in 2014 but now ranks 129th;
Recognises:
• the fact that the European Party of Ukraine initiated the establishment of the Rescue Committee on Freedom of Speech uniting prominent politicians, public figures and journalists;
•that civil society is losing leverage of protecting freedom of speech and independence of the media;
•the repeated signals of journalists on introduction of playbooks in the media and attempts of state control over media freedoms.
Calls on members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe to:
•hold debates in the European Parliament on issues of freedom of speech in Ukraine;
•support non-governmental organisations and volunteer movements that monitor freedom of speech in Ukraine;
•monitor further implementation of EU policies supporting freedom of speech and media in Ukraine;
•support the cooperation between national and international media outlets and Ukrainian media, training, strengthening and supporting independence and integrity among Ukrainian reporters.
Press Service of the European Party of Ukraine