European Union Commission Attentive to El Universo Case

The European Union (UE) awaits the decision of the National Court of Justice (CNJ by its Spanish acronym) of Ecuador regarding the trial of libel accusations that the Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa has against El Universo newspaper.

Catherine Ashton, the head of Diplomacy of the UE, confirmed yesterday in front of the European parliament that the case against El Universo is being followed closely. Ashton stated that the facts behind this case are a concerning matter, since its about the free speech.

Ashton, who belongs to the Party of European Socialists European (PSE) asked the parliament to wait for the decision of the CNJ regarding the case that requires “the biggest judicial standards.” Ashton added that “if the Court rules in favor of the appeal of the newspaper, it would reach a solution through the judicial process. Otherwise there are obligations in the bilateral agreement EU-Ecuador, we would have to see what action to take.”

The bilateral agreement, European Union-Ecuador, includes the respect of the fundamental freedoms including the free speech in the South American country. (AV)