EFJ Mission to Italy, 6-9 November 2003

The European Federation of Journalists is carrying-out a mission to Italy on 6-9 November 2003, with three major objectives:

- To give genuine public support to the activities of the Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (the Italian union of journalists), to guarantee democratic principles deeply affected by Mr. Berlusconi’s conflict of interests and to defend press freedom and social and professional rights of journalists in Italy;
- To support last lobbying measures against the ‘Gasparri law’, a draft media law to be adopted mid November by the Senate and tailored for the needs of Mr Berlusconi's Mediaset company;
- To draft a report which will be circulated to Italian and European policy makers.

Participants to the mission are:
- Aidan White, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists;
- Gustl Glattfelder (DJV, Germany), Chairman of the European Federation of Journalists;
- Björn Mansson (FUJ, Finland), Vice-Chairman of the European Federation of Journalists;
- Renate Schroeder, European Director of the International Federation of Journalists;
- Mogens Blicher-Bjerregard, Danish Union of Journalists;
- Mario Guastoni, Syndicat National des Journalistes (France);
- Juan-Antonio Prieto, Federacion de la Prensa Espanola (Spain);
- Jean-Paul Marthoz, Human Rights Watch Europe.

A public statement will be issued in due time.