The European Commission has barred Brussels-based news outlet Euractiv from its background media briefings, a move its editor-in-chief says is retaliation for publishing critical reporting about the EU’s inner workings.
Matthew Karnitschnig said the decision reflects a growing intolerance toward independent journalism in Brussels, where many media organisations rely heavily on access to officials, advisers and lobbyists.
He said Euractiv recently intensified its scrutiny of the so-called “EU bubble,” which he believes prompted the Commission to remove the outlet from off-the-record briefings used to shape media narratives.
Karnitschnig pointed to reporting that challenged claims involving Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and criticised proposals such as a European intelligence service.
Founded in 1999, Euractiv focuses on EU policy and legislation and says it aims to explain the complexities of European governance.
The dispute comes amid wider criticism that free expression in Europe is under pressure, with concerns raised that marginalising critical media voices ultimately weakens democratic accountability.
Fascism is on the rise again, we are seeing it in the EU, UK and more recently Australia under its ersatz Labor government. Censorship is the first step in trying to secure control and compliance. The one source of truth.
Abolish the EU. Unelected and unaacountable liars. Liars hate the truth.
As does their ‘father of lies’.