The European Union has discovered press freedom.
In a recent post, EU Rights proudly reminded us that democracy is apparently “built into the DNA of the European Union.” We are told that the EU supports independent media, protects fundamental rights and strengthens democratic institutions.
Wonderful.
There is just one small problem.
I am the publisher and editor of Bioplastics News, based in Brussels, and I now have to appear before a Belgian court and explain why I criticised the European Commission, what I wrote about it, and why I chose the words I used.
The plaintiff is not the European Commission itself, but a Commission employee suing me in a personal capacity. Yet a substantial part of the dispute concerns publications in which I criticised the Commission and its conduct.
So while Brussels celebrates independent media and freedom of expression on LinkedIn, I am preparing to explain my criticism of the European Commission before a judge.
Apparently, independent journalism, publishing and criticism are fundamental European values.
Until the criticism gets too close to home.
Then you may need a lawyer.
Welcome to EU Press Freedom: The Bullshit Edition.
Final Notes
Two final remarks.
First, a small identity crisis.
I wrote this article with the help of ChatGPT. At one point, ChatGPT wanted to describe me as a journalist or publisher. I am not entirely comfortable with the word “journalist.” “Blogger” probably feels more natural to me. Publisher, blogger, commentator, occasional investigator — call it whatever you want.
What I do know is that I investigate things, at my own level, I publish what I find, and sometimes I ask questions that powerful institutions would probably prefer not to answer.
Second, and this deserves to be said: I am also grateful that I can write this.
I can criticise the European Commission, Belgium, European institutions and powerful companies, sometimes very harshly, without being sent to prison for doing so.
That matters.
If I were based in Russia, China or Saudi Arabia and directed the same volume and intensity of criticism at their authorities, I genuinely do not know whether I would enjoy the same freedom. I suspect I would not.
So yes, Europe deserves criticism when its practice appears to contradict its own grand declarations about democracy and press freedom.
But Europe also deserves credit for creating a system in which someone like me can publicly call that contradiction bullshit — and, at least for now, go home afterwards.