Spain’s AEEPP Protests Ministry of Environment’s Latest Bill Charging the Free Press

An official press release issued Tuesday by AEEPP (Spanish Association of Journalistic Publishing Houses) reveals a very worrisome appendix to the Bill on Residuals and Contaminated Soils by which the Ministry of Environment pretends to ruin the country’s publishing houses, particularly those devoted to the free press; another move by Zapatero’s government to limit the freedom of speech and the press. The appendix is the number IV on page 55 of the bill. Its 18 item literally reads: “In relation to paper generation, consideration of measures aimed at reducing the free distribution of newspapers and publicity, promotion of responsible use of paper and dematerialization of information, encouragement of the reuse of textbooks and reading materials.” As AEEPP rightly says, the section means “a serious threat to editors and creators of content whose main source of income at present is printed material. It is a threat particularly to the free press and therefore to the freedom of speech and information which finds in them a means of expression. Also, the concept of ‘dematerializing information’ opens a door to the clearance of publications, the way we currently known them.” Looking for an immediate response to the “serious threat,” AEEPP’s president has contacted every business organization stricken by the bill to have CEOE and CEPYME involved in the protest of the proposal. Likewise, AEEPP filed a claim before the Ministry of Environment stating the negative consequences of the bill. The Ministry committed to have the reference removed from the document and to listen to the opinion of possible affected parties and of the Association before sending the bill to the Council of State. According to the press release distributed by the Association among its members, “the need for editors to get organized to defend a sector that is being seriously affected by the overall economic crisis, particularly one of model becomes obvious once again.” AEEPP promised its associates to closely follow the development of this and other similar processes, and to keep them posted, “without leaving out the possibility of taking action if the proposals against publishing houses are maintained.” In a few days, the Association is expected to meet with deputies and senators on the Commission relevant to the issue to discuss aspects harming the value chain of printed products.