Romanian Parliament Committee Thumbs Down Proposition On Journalists’ Statement Of Interests

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Urban presented the committee for legal matters, which convened Tuesday for debates on the draft law amending the functioning of the National Integrity Agency, with the proposition that journalists should submit statements of interest.

Urban's amendment did not receive enough votes to be adopted. The senator proposed that the respective statements of interest should be published on the website of the National Integrity Agency.

The committee for legal matters president, social democrat Toni Grebla, said democrat liberals are trying to adopt a law against journalists.

Early February, Urban brought an amendment to the law regulating the functioning of the National Integrity Agency, according to which all journalists would have to submit a statement of interests, adding his proposition is meant to ensure transparency.

Romanian Press Club (CRP) president Indira Crasnea said back then the current CRP code of ethics recommends journalists to make public their statements of interests or to submit them with their media outlets' managers.

Furthermore, four media organizations, such as ActiveWatch and the Center for Independent Journalism, urged the Parliament committee for legal matters to thumb down the amendment proposed by Urban.