Cyprus

[CY] European Journalists to Have same Rights as their Cypriot Colleagues

IRIS 2002-3:1/30

Andreas Christodoulou

Cyprus

The Cyprus Council of Ministers decided on 5 February 2002 to approve the draft Law entitled "Press (Amending) Law of 2002" and to authorize the Minister of Foreign Affairs to submit it to the House of Representatives to be voted into law (Decision No. 55.083).

The purpose of the draft law is the harmonisation of the basic law with the acquis communautaire, and more especially with Articles 43 to 48 of the European Union Treaty safeguarding the right of free establishment, Articles 49 to 55 regarding the right of free provision of services, and Articles 56 to 60 regarding free of movement of capital.

Specifically, this law removes all discrimination between Cypriot citizens and citizens of member states of the European Union vis-à-vis the exercise of the profession of journalist, the issuing of newspapers, the establishment of printing houses and the payment of relevant fees.

The draft law is expected to come before the competent House of Representatives committee during March 2002.