GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE EFJ

The General Assembly of the European Federation of Journalists Considers

1) That the protection of moral and economical Authors' Rights of journalists is an indispensable condition for preserving the independence of information professionals and for maintaining the quality of journals, magazines and information services like radio, television, agencies and other media of diffusion.

2) That the effective protection of journalists' Authors' Rights on their works is the imprescriptible condition for their responsibility concerning the sources of information, the persons and entities which are subject of their work and the public in general.

3) That information is not a merchandisable good like others and that journalists have the right to decide upon the destiny of their works

4) That public service emissions should be obliged to protect the integrity of journalistic creations as well as the editorial section under which they were produced.

5) That the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal has made a historic step approving the journalistic statutes in unanimity (Law n° 1/99, of January 13th) which generically protects journalistic authors' rights on their texts, images, designs and sounds.

6) That the Assembly of the Republic has let the 120 usual days determined for approval pass by, but has already received a project concerning this reglementation.

7) That the Members of Parliament in charge of authors' rights legislation have the chance to enhance responsibility and quality in journalism and contribute actively and decisively in protecting the democratic fundament of a free press;

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The EFJ/IFJ - European Federation of Journalists,General Assembly in Saint Vincent, May 4th and 5th, 2001:

1) Declares its support for the struggle of the Journalists' Trade union of Portugal for the effective legislation of authors' rights in journalism

2) Urges the President of the General Assembly to add the authors' rights debate on the assembly's agenda and to promote a general consensus among the parliamentary groups.

3) Urges the parliamentary groups to hold on to Law n° 1/99 and to seek a general consensus on this law which is essential for democracy of which the MPs are guardians.

The General Assembly of the European federation of Journalists that unites representatives of 20 countries in the year 2001, expresses its explicit support for the struggle of journalistic trade unions fighting for the improvement and enforcement of authors' rights. The legal body, the social partners and the editorial managements can neither deny the existence of authors' moral rights, nor the right of employed and freelance journalists to be reimbursed adequately for intellectual property on their works, which are published in a visual, audiovisual or electronic form.