The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European regional group of the International Federation of Journalists, in cooperation with Journalists@YourService will hold a press conference on 6 January at 15.00 at the Residence Palace in Brussels to  consider the conclusion of  a  marathon investigation  into corruption charges against former Brussels correspondent Martin Tillack in a historic case over protection of sources. The case arose from  a complaint lodged by the European Anti-Fraud Office over a leak of confidential documents and a charge of bribery against Tillack. The complaint led to a controversial raid by Belgian police on the home and office of the reporter, an action condemned by the European Court on Human Rights.  

"It is  extraordinary that two years after the ECHR judgment and five years after the complaint was first laid Belgian authorities are finally bringing the investigation to a close," said Aidan White, EFJ General Secretary. "This is a terrible case of justice denied. The Belgian police, examining magistrates and justice system have much to answer for, as do European Union  authorities who were responsible for this shocking and unjust complaint. But who will have the decency to apologise, both to Tillack and to the journalists of Brussels?" 

The EFJ and Belgian journalists have supported Tillack's request to Belgian prosecutor Bruno Bulthe for the return all the material confiscated in the illegal raids after more than 5 years.  

This call followed the European Court of Human Rights verdict in 2007 that condemned the Belgian state for acting illegally when it raided a journalist's home and office following a complaint by the European Union over allegations of corruption and leak of confidential documents. 

Tillack was accused of bribing an unknown EU official with up to 8,000 Euro in return for secret files. Police seized his computers, address books, telephone records and documents that exposed his sources inside the EU  bureaucracy.  No evidence was found to justify the complaints, which had also been submitted to police in Germany, the home country of the reporter, but where they were dismissed within months and the case closed.

Journalists have complained that the action taken against Hans Martin Tillack, who worked in Brussels for the German news magazine Stern, was an attempt to manipulate evidence and silence criticism. They still want  assurances from the European Union that they will not target journalists  who are carrying out legitimate investigations and working with whistle-blowers inside the Brussels machine of the European Union. "What is at stake here is not just one case of unfair treatment, but a culture of secrecy that tries to intimidate journalists from doing their job," said White.

Press Conference, Tuesday 6 January, 15.00 p.m in  Maelbeek Room, Residence Palace , Bloc C Rue de la Loi, 155  B-1040 Brussels

Speakers:

Hans Martin Tillack and his lawyer

Aidan White, EFJ/IFJ General Secretary

For more information contact the EFJ at 32 2 235 2200
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in more than 30 countries