"This is a landmark victory for our Belgian colleagues as well as for all European journalists who still do not have a legal guarantee over their protection of sources" said Arne König, Chair of the European Federation of Journalists. "It almost certainly would have avoided the police raid on the home and office of a Brussels reporter last year which shocked international journalists."
Due to series of violations on protection of sources during the last ten years journalists have been pressing for an urgent change in the law. A number of home searches, seizures, and even detention of journalists, had seen pressure on journalists to reveal their sources rise to unprecedented levels in the European Union.
The EFJ has welcomed the verdict of its affiliate in Belgium, the AGJPB/AVBB that the new law will reverse the situation creating one of the best environments in Europe and around the world for journalists to protect their sources.
The law's main points are:
The AGJPB has expressed the hope this new law will be published soon in the "Moniteur" (The Belgian Official Journal) - the law is applicable ten days after publication - and that all police and judicial authorities will be informed within the shortest delay about the content and implications of the law.
More information: +32 2 235 2202 or Philippe Leruth, EFJ Vice-President - +32 476 697 104
The European Federation of Journalists represents over 260.000 members in more than 40 countries