Art. 1 Libertatea presei este vitala pentru o societate democratica. Autoritatile statului trebuie sa o sustina si sa o protejeze, sa respecte diversitatea media jurnalistica in toate formele sale de diseminare cat si in misiunile sale politice, sociale si culturale.

Art. 2 Cenzura este strict interzisa. Trebuie sa existe garantii ca jurnalismul independent, in orice media, este liber de persecutii, represalii, interferente politice sau de reglementare ale statului. Statul nu va supune unui proces de autorizare presa si media online. Art. 3 Dreptul jurnalistilor si media de a aduna si disemina informatii si opinii nu trebuie sa fie amenintat, restrictionat sau sanctionat.
Art. 4 Protectia surselor jurnalistice trebuie strict respectata. Orice tip de perchezitii ale redactiilor sau altor locatii ale jurnalistilor cat si supravegherea jurnalistilor sau interceptarea comunicatiilor acestora, cu scopul de a identifica sursele de informare sau de a viola secretul redactional sunt strict interzise.
 Art. 5 Toate statele trebuie sa se asigure ca media, in indeplinirea misiunilor sale, se bucura de o deplina protectie a legilor, a unui sistem judiciar independent si de protectia autoritatilor. Aceasta se aplica mai ales pentru a proteja jurnalistii si colaboratorii lor , in cazul unor actiuni de hartuire sau atacuri la integritatea lor fizica. Incalcarea acestor drepturi sau orice amenintari cu incalcarea lor, trebuie sa fie atent investigate si pedepsite de justitie. Art. 6 Existenta si independenta economica a media nu trebuie puse in pericol de catre institutiile statului, institutii aflate sub influenta statului sau de catre alte organizatii. Amenintarea cu sanctiuni economice este deasemenea strict interzisa. Companiile private trebuie sa respecte independenta editoriala a media. Ele trebuie sa se abtina atat de la a exercita presiuni asupra continutului editorial cat si de la a incerca sa amestece publicitatea cu continutul editorial. Art. 7 Institutile statului sau cele aflate sub influenta statului nu trebuie sa ingradeasca libertatea de acces la informatii a media si a jurnalistilor. Ele au obligatia de a sprijini misiunea media si a jurnalistilor de a informa. Art. 8 Media si jurnalistii au dreptul la acces neingradit la toate stirile si sursele de informare, inclusiv la cele din afara tarii. Pentru a-si indeplini misiunea de a informa din strainatate, jurnalistii trebuie sa primeasca fara intarziere vize, acreditari sau orice alte documente necesare. Art. 9 Publicului trebuie sa-i fie garantat accesul liber la orice media sau sursa de informatii, nationala sau internationala. Art. 10 Statul nu poate restrictiona accesul la profesia de jurnalist.

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The “European Charter on Freedom of the Press”

On May 25th, 2009 48 editors-in-chief and leading journalists from 19 countries adopted and signed the “European Charter on Freedom of the Press” in Hamburg.

In ten articles, the charter formulates principles for the freedom of the press from government interference - in particular for their right to safety from surveillance, electronic eavesdropping and searches of editorial departments and computers, and to unimpeded access for journalists and citizens to all domestic and foreign sources of information

The goal is to assert the charter’s validity across Europe and to make its adoption a condition in EU accession negotiations.

Ideally, journalists all over Europe will be able to cite the charter in cases of conflict with the state or with state-controlled institutions, and to call on their international colleagues for help and support.

If you are a journalist, please click on the following link to sign the charter online: Sign Charter

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 European Charter on Freedom of the Press

Article 1
Freedom of the press is essential to a democratic society. To uphold and protect it, and to respect its diversity and its political, social and cultural missions, is the mandate of all governments.

Article 2
Censorship is impermissible. Independent journalism in all media is free of persecution and repression, without a guarantee of political or regulatory interference by government. Press and online media shall not be subject to state licensing.

Article 3
The right of journalists and media to gather and disseminate information and opinions must not be threatened, restricted or made subject to punishment.

Article 4
The protection of journalistic sources shall be strictly upheld. Surveillance of, electronic eavesdropping on or searches of newsrooms, private rooms or journalists’ computers with the aim of identifying sources of information or infringing on editorial confidentiality are unacceptable.

Article 5
All states must ensure that the media have the full protection of the law and the authorities while carrying out their role. This applies in particular to defending journalists and their employees from harassment and/or physical attack. Threats to or violations of these rights must be carefully investigated and punished by the judiciary.

Article 6
The economic livelihood of the media must not be endangered by the state or by state-controlled institutions. The threat of economic sanctions is also unacceptable. Private-sector companies must respect the journalistic freedom of the media. They shall neither exert pressure on journalistic content nor attempt to mix commercial content with journalistic content.

Article 7
State or state-controlled institutions shall not hinder the freedom of access of the media and journalists to information. They have a duty to support them in their mandate to provide information.

Article 8
Media and journalists have a right to unimpeded access to all news and information sources, including those from abroad. For their reporting, foreign journalists should be provided with visas, accreditation and other required documents without delay.

Article 9
The public of any state shall be granted free access to all national and foreign media and sources of information.

Article 10
The government shall not restrict entry into the profession of journalism.