A year after the adoption of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, legal scholars and civil society actors continue to assess its scope and potential. In a recent EU Law Live op-ed, key reflections are offered on the strengths and remaining gaps in the directive’s design—particularly around cross-border applicability and procedural safeguards for victims. While the directive has been seen as a crucial step forward in protecting public watchdogs from abusive lawsuits, concerns persist regarding national implementation, the exclusion of domestic-only cases, and the absence of robust penalties for SLAPP filers. The piece reiterates the importance of vigilance from civil society to ensure that the directive’s promise translates into practice and that member states are held accountable during transposition. With SLAPPs still a growing threat across the EU and candidate countries, the broader legal and political ecosystem remains under pressure to deliver durable protections for free expression and civic participation. Read more here.
Source: EU Law Live
