OPEN LETTER FROM PUBLISHERS, NEWS AGENCIES AND JOURNALISTS TO MERKEL AND MACRON: « PLEASE TAKE URGENT ACTION AND DON’T JEOPARDISE COPYRIGHT REFORM »

Europe’s news publishers, news agencies and journalists have appealed to Chancellor Merkel and President Macron to break the Franco-German deadlock over the negotiation on the EU copyright reform, in a letter (attached) signed by the entirety of the press ecosystem, namely ENPA (European Newspaper Publishers’ Association), EMMA (European Magazine Media Association), EFJ (European Federation of Journalists), EANA (European Alliance of News Agencies), EPC (European Publishers’ Council), NMC (News Media Coalition) and NME (News Media Europe).

With time fast running out for the directive to get through the final legislative stages before the current European Parliament ends its mandate, this deadlock could jeopardise the entire copyright directive – and crucially threatens the chance to adopt a much-needed Publisher’s Neighbouring Right, which is key to the future of professional journalism and a sustainable, free, independent, democracy-enhancing press.

The European Parliament voted for a strong Publisher’s Right in September last year, guaranteeing protection of publishers’ valuable content, including very short excerpts giving a strong democratic signal to Member States that the reform needs to move forward.

Today, the negotiations have reached a critical juncture and the European press in its entirety is deeply concerned that a potential failure to reach an agreement between France and Germany, would jeopardise the whole Copyright reform.

A spokesman for the letter’s signatories said: “These crucial, final discussions cannot progress if France and Germany continue their stand-off. We appeal to them to consider the implications for Europe’s publishers and journalists if this directive falls. If a workable Publisher’s Right is not urgently adopted, the future of diverse, independent, fact-checked, legally-responsible news, and investigation will be at stake.”

Next steps:

Romanian Presidency text needs mandate from Coreper

Once there is a mandate, the text will go to trilogue

From trilogue, the text goes to the European Parliament’s JURI committee (last possible date: 18/19 February)

From JURI committee, the text goes to the March (or April?) plenary of this European Parliament