The Legal Affairs Committee adopted its position on new rules to ensure EU-wide protection from vexatious lawsuits against public participation with 15 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.

The new draft rules contain safeguards against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and threats thereof. These are unfounded and abusive legal actions to silence those working in the public interest on matters such as fundamental rights, the environment and public access to information. They would apply in cross-border cases, i.e. when a defendant and claimant are not based in the member state of the court.

To increase EU protection, MEPs extended the definition of cross-border cases, to include cases where the topic of the case is relevant for more than one country and is accessible electronically. They also urge EU countries to implement the Commission’s recommendations for national cases, especially when it comes to legal assistance for those targeted.

Early…