Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group

The delegation from the LIBE Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, on a mission monitoring the rule of law in Bulgaria, was not satisfied with its meeting with Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, Dutch MEP and leader of the delegation Sophia in 't Veld (Renew Europe) said on Friday.

Ljubljana/Brussels – The European Parliament’s democracy monitoring group has addressed almost fifty written questions to the Slovenian government, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti, as it is trying to fully assess media freedom in Slovenia.

Brussels – Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša has called on Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew/D66) to resign as chair of the European Parliament’s democracy monitoring group. The move comes after Friday’s incident during the group’s public debate and censorship allegations.

Brussels – Slovenian representatives presented differing views on the media situation as they attended Friday’s public debate at the European Parliament in Brussels. The head of the Parliament’s democracy monitoring group, Sophie in ‘t Veld, wanted to know what criteria are used as basis for journalist in Slovenia to be classified as “left”.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa left a video debate on media freedom in his country organised by the European Parliament's monitoring group on Friday, cutting off the opportunity for European lawmakers to ask him questions, but also to defend his views.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša will speak to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen virtually on Thursday, as the EU summit in Brussels will also be held online and not in person as originally scheduled. Janša and Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti will meanwhile not take part in a discussion on the media scheduled in the European Parliament.

Brussels – A European Parliament policy department service compiled an in-depth document on the situation in Slovenia in preparation for Friday’s session of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group. The document, which is for internal use only, also details Prime Minister Janez Janša’s attacks on media.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša is suggesting the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group have discussion with him and Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti on 26 March, after the EU summit as they would not be able to attend the discussion in Brussels in person this Friday, the PM’s office has announced.

Ljubljana – PM Janez Janša and Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti gladly accept an invitation to an exchange of views on Slovenian media with the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, however the discussion should be held in face-to-face format in the European Parliament, the government said on Tuesday.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša and other Slovenian officials have been invited for a virtual exchange of views on the media in the country with the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group on 5 March.