On 7-8 May, the Council of Europe participated in the High-level event on combating Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) organised by the European Commission, in Brussels. Marja Ruotanen, Director General Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of Europe, delivered introductory remarks in the high-level opening session, alongside Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Tiemo Wölken, EP representative, Theano Christodoulou-Mavromoustaki, Attorney of the Republic of Cyprus, Head of the Civil Law Department at the Attorney General’s Office, and Jasmijn de Zeeuw, lawyer and researcher at Free Press Unlimited.

DG Ruotanen presented the Council of Europe’s current instruments addressing SLAPPs, including the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), the work towards the New Democratic Pact for Europe (NDPE), the “Journalists Matter” campaign for the Safety of Journalists, and the activities carried out in the field of Cooperation. In her address she noted that SLAPPs continue representing a serious and growing threat to public debate and democratic values in Europe. While the Council of Europe and the European Union provided guidance and clear standards to mitigate the chilling effect SLAPPs have on freedom of expression and participation, robust implementation of effective legal frameworks by member states is now critical to counter SLAPPs effectively.

She further stressed that the ECtHR’s case law on freedom of expression provides a solid basis for action, yet continued vigilance and adaptation to new risks, such as technological developments and evolving tactics of harassment, remain essential. Moreover, support mechanisms for victims and targets should be made available and encompass financial, psychological, and informational assistance. DG Ruotanen also highlighted that it is essential to recognise the gendered nature of these attacks, as women journalists and human rights defenders often endure compounded forms of intimidation and retaliation.

The event gathered around 100 participants amongst representatives from EU institutions, member States, legal professionals, civil society, academia and international partners. On this occasion, the Commission also launched the 2027 review of the 2022 Commission Recommendation on Anti-SLAPPs and renewed the mandate and composition of the Expert Group against SLAPPs to further strengthen support for victims.