The EU Foreign Affairs Council on May 12 adopted the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression online and offline that provide a comprehensive compilation of definitions, covering all aspects of the freedom of expression right , including the right to hold opinions without interference, the right to seek and receive information and the right to impart information and ideas of all kinds through any media and regardless of frontiers.

“With these guidelines, the EU reaffirms the pivotal role that freedom of opinion and expression play in a democratic society,” the Council said in a statement.

“Freedom of opinion and expression should be seen both individually, as a means of promoting an individual’s self-fulfilment and autonomy as well as collectively, in the context of a free, diverse and independent media. Without freedom of expression and freedom of the media, an informed, active and engaged citizenry is impossible,” the Council said.

The Council pointed out that technological innovations in information technology and communications have created new ways of promoting freedom of expression but have also brought new challenges.

“The  EU is firmly opposed to any unjustified restrictions on the internet and other new media. All human rights which exist offline must also be protected online, in particular the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” it said.

“The EU, through these Guidelines, stresses that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is a universal right and applies to all persons equally. States must ensure that their legal systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of opinion and expression to all and can be properly enforced,” the Council said.

The general aim of the Guidelines is to address unjustified restrictions on freedom of expression, promote media freedom and provide valuable guidance to EU officials and staff across the globe.

While pursuing its aims, the EU will make full use of the tools available, such as traditional diplomatic tools (political dialogues, high level visits, public statements and  demarches), but also good and effective use of financial instruments available, public  diplomacy in multilateral fora and continuous cooperation with regional organisations, such as the Council of Europe and OSCE.

Full Council’s statement:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/142550.pdf

Link to the guidelines:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/142549.pdf