EFJ upozorava predsjednika Komisije EU i ministra unutarnjih poslova Njemaèke na situaciju u kojoj se našao novinar Hans Martin Tillack

14.10.2005.

Jose Manuel Barroso

President of the Commission of the European Union

The European Commission

1049 Brussels                                                                                            October 9^th 2005

 

 

Dear Mr Barroso,

 

I am writing on behalf of the European Federation of Journalists, which represents more than 250,000 journalists throughout Europe, to seek from the Commission and the anti-fraud unit OLAF the withdrawal of the complaints which have been laid against the German journalist Hans Martin Tillack.

 

I am also writing to the Federal Judicial authorities in Belgium seeking an explanation as to why this case has not been concluded and for the matter to be immediately closed. This has gone on for far too long.

 

The concerns of European journalists are straightforward -- in March 2004 police action was taken against Mr Tillack following a complaint by OLAF over allegations that he had been involved in bribery of staff to obtain information. It was an action which shocked journalists. Their unease has been utterly justified by the failure over many months to substantiate such serious allegations.

 

After the police raid a considerable number of documents was seized and these have not been returned to Mr Tillack. Even worse, the Commission has obtained the right to gain access to these private documents, even though no formal charges have been laid against Mr Tillack. Despite repeated requests, the Commission has refused to give a guarantee that it will not seek access to these documents.

 

Every journalist has a genuine concern that if the Commission takes advantage of a lack of legal protection in Belgium to gain access, without any justification, to a journalist’s confidential sources this will constitute a gross violation of press freedom and the right to protect sources of information guaranteed under Article 10 of the ECHR.  

 

I do not need to remind you that we have protested at the preposterous nature of this complaint against Mr Tillack, both at the time of the police action and through our support for his legal actions to overturn the complaints and to seek the return of his property.

 

The board of the European Federation of Journalists, meeting in Berlin this weekend, has endorsed a plan to have increased dialogue with OLAF in order to open up a frank and honest dialogue over relations between journalists and the anti-fraud authorities at national and international level.

 

But as we do this, we wish to see urgent action on the behalf of the Commission authorities to bring this long-running affair to a close.

 

It is shocking that 18 months after the police raid and the seizure of documents a cloud of suspicion still hangs over this case. This is a continuing grievance felt by many journalists and their unions and associations across the European Union.

 

Journalists do not believe it will be possible for there to be a proper climate for effective dialogue until the shadow of the Tillack case is lifted and for an acknowledgement by OLAF of the mistakes made in dealing with this matter.

 

The Commission has a responsibility to act, notwithstanding the independence of OLAF in carrying out inquiries into matters of fraud, because this case deals with relations between Commission staff and media, a matter which is covered by internal rules which apply across the Commission, including OLAF.

 

I am copying this letter to OLAF in the hope that they, too, will recognise that the time has come for this matter to be closed in a ways that will allow for a new and effective dialogue between journalists and the EU authorities to ensure that the rights of journalists are respected.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 AIDAN WHITE
General Secretary

Povratak