The European Parliament hosted the 7th Transatlantic Summit titled “Freedom of Speech vs. Regulated Public Debate—Pillars of Democracy.” One of the main speakers was Patryk Jaki, a Law and Justice MEP and co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, who sharply criticized the growing restrictions on freedom of speech in the European Union in his speech.
“We are meeting today in the European Parliament—a place that, by definition, should be a temple of free debate, not a regulator or censor,” Jaki emphasized as he opened his remarks. As he noted, the debate often framed as “freedom of speech versus regulated speech” is, in reality, a debate about the very foundations of democracy. “Without freedom of speech, there is no democracy, no equality, no development, and no security,” he added.
The ECR MEP warned that freedom of expression is not a luxury of stable times, but a prerequisite for the existence of democratic societies. He quoted John Stuart Mill, Voltaire, and Edmund Burke, noting that the European tradition of progress has been based on debate, discussion, and the courage to challenge prevailing views.
In his analysis, Jaki pointed to specific mechanisms restricting freedom of speech in the European Union. He listed, among other things, the criminalization of so-called “hate speech” without a uniform definition, administrative pressure on digital platforms resulting in the removal of content without court rulings, and the prosecution of disinformation without a clear distinction between lies and opinions. “As a result, pluralism is being replaced by a single acceptable narrative,” he observed.
The MEP also recalled Poland’s tradition of liberal thought, citing, among others, Stanisław Staszic, Adam Mickiewicz, and John Paul II. “A Europe without freedom of speech is a Europe without truth. And a Europe without truth is a Europe that robs people of their dignity and future,” he said.
“That is why today we are standing up to fight for freedom of speech—the foundation of democracy, human dignity, and Europe’s future,” Patryk Jaki concluded.
The 7th Transatlantic Summit brought together Members of the European Parliament, national parliamentarians, government representatives, and civic leaders from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The event was co-organized by the ECR Group and the Political Network for Values, and one of the topics of debate was the impact of the implementation of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) on freedom of expression.
