Manfred WEBER Chairman of the EPP Group and Ivan ŠTEFANEC Head of Delegation
At the occasion of the third anniversary of the murder of the Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancé Martina Kušnírová, the EPP Group in the European Parliament points out, that the freedom of press continues to be under pressure in several EU Member States.
“The murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová shocked Europe and confirmed once again the importance of free media on our continent. It is unacceptable that journalists lose their lives because they are doing their jobs. Worryingly, we see in several Member States that free media is under great pressure. To honor the memory of Ján Kuciak, it is paramount that the European Commission uses the tools at her disposal to safeguard the freedom of media in Europe”, stated Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.
“I trust the court will carry out a just adjudication in the case of the murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová. Undoubtedly, both became victims due to Ján Kuciak’s fearless attitude towards writing the truth about people, who had felt untouchable. Recent revelations and arrests occurring in Slovakia only confirm what he knew. It is our responsibility to commemorate these two young people, along with creating an environment, that prevents corruption and abuse of power”, stated Ivan Štefanec MEP, who is the head of the Slovak delegation to the EPP Group in the European Parliament.