The Centre for Private International Law hosted a workshop event entitled: 'Workshop: Reform of EU law on Defamation' at the University of Aberdeen on the 4th March.
This workshop started with a welcome from Dr Greg Gordon, Head of the Law School, followed by opening remarks by Dr Justin Borg-Barthet, senior lecturer in EU law and private international law, and organiser of the workshop. During this introduction, a portrait to commemorate Daphne Caruana Galizia was unveiled.
Throughout the day, there were four panel discussions followed by questions and closed with a strategic planning session which was led by Sarah Clarke (Article 19).
The first session was on abuse of defamation law in practise and this panel included presentations by Mathew Caruana Galizia (Director of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation); Gill Phillips (The Guardian); Caroline Muscat (The Shift News) and the discussion was chaired by Rebecca Vincent (Reporters without Borders).
The next panel on Jurisdiction and choice of law problems in cross-border litigation featured presentations by Dr Justin Borg-Barthet (University of Aberdeen); Professor Alex Mills (University College London) and chaired by Dr Jonathan Fitchen (University of Aberdeen).
The penultimate session was on public law limitations to defamation law began with a presentation by Flutura Kusari (European Centre for Press and Media Freedom); Professor Lori A. Ringhand (University of Georgia); Margo Smit (News Ombudsman, Netherlands) joined the discussion from The Hague via video conference call and this panel was chaired by Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC (Doughty Street Chambers).
The final panel on perspectives from the EU institutions featured presentations by Pia Lindholm (European Commission); Tom Gibson (Committee to Project Journalists) and was chaired by Scott Griffen (International Press Institute).
The workshop was covered by the local Press and Journal newspaper and The Shift News in Malta. You can read press coverage by The Shift News here.
