Pegasus Project wins first Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize

The Pegasus Project has won the first edition of The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism. The EPP Group thanks all journalists around the world for their tireless work and for the values they represent, for democracy rests on their courage and their bravery.

On the fourth anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, the European Parliament honoured the slain Maltese journalist by hosting the first award ceremony of The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas MEP recalled that all of civilisation rests on journalism.

“The prize is named after Daphne Caruana Galizia who stood for fearless journalism and this prize pays tribute to that. Freedom of media and freedom of speech are untouchable basic rights. Journalists have to be able to work comfortably and in full security, globally and especially in Europe. If journalists cannot work properly and freely and even have to fear for their lives, there is no civilisation. In these instances, there is no rule of law and democracy is in danger. We have to prevent these situations under all circumstances”, Karas said.

European Parliament Quaestor David Casa MEP, who spearheaded efforts to establish this prize together with Karas, pledged to continue defending independent and investigative journalism.

“Through this new prize, the European Parliament is sending out two strong messages. The first message is addressed to the Maltese: the European Parliament is on your side, and it wants justice for all those cases revealed by Daphne. The second message is addressed to all journalists across the world: the European Parliament values journalism which is indispensable for our democracies. We will stand with journalists, champion media freedom and combat the culture of impunity that allows for journalists to be targeted by those they expose. This is also my mission as a Maltese elected representative”, Casa concluded.

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be awarded annually, close to the date of 16 October, the day on which Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered.