The European Union launches the
"Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press" 2010
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In 2009, 76 journalists were killed around the world (a quarter more than 2008), 33 were kidnapped, and nearly 600 others were arrested because their work was disturbing. Moreover, censorship continues to affect all types of media, including internet, in many countries.

The region of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf is no exception. Beyond the harm to the physical integrity of journalists, all too often media outlets are controlled by the State, led and financed by political parties, forced to engage in self-censorship or they lack the most basic means for their work.

Yet honest criticism is part of the life of a society and a nation. In the absence of a free and independent press - and therefore sometimes criticism - citizens can not rely on any information, and society remains frozen and sclerotic. Therefore, in my opinion freedom of the press is key to advancement of a country not only as a free and democratic society, but also in terms of development in all its dimensions: political, economic, social and cultural.

Patrick Laurent
Ambassador - Head of the Delegation
of the European Union to Lebanon