Freedom of Expression and the EU’s Ban on Russia Today: A Dangerous Rubicon Crossed

Abstract

In RT France v Council, the General Court of the European Union found that the ban on RT France in the EU did not violate the right to freedom of expression and media freedom, under Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Notably, the General Court sought to apply principles from case law of the European Court of Human Rights and international human rights law. This article argues that there are serious questions to be raised over the General Court’s reasoning in RT France, and the judgment arguably represents a deeply problematic application of European and international free expression principles.

Keywords: Freedom Of Expression, EU Law, ECHR Law, Broadcast Ban, Human Rights