Commenting on the assassination of Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, co-chair of the EuroLat, Ramón Jáuregui Atondo, and S&D spokesperson on EuroLat, Francisco Assis, stated:

"The cruel assassination of the Mexican journalist Javier Valdez - who dedicated his entire life to denouncing the narco crimes in the Mexican State of Sinaloa - has moved us all. This murder is a brutal attack on freedom of speech. Unfortunately, Valdez is already the sixth journalist assassinated in Mexico in 2017. All of them were brave people, professionals determined to denounce crimes and show the truth to the Mexican people, who received death as payment for their courage. Each murdered journalist is a hard strike on Mexican democracy and the European Parliament must say so, loud and clear.

"We must also remember that journalists are not the only ones in the sad list of murders; Human rights defenders and community leaders are also attacked in Mexico. However, some of those aggressions are silenced because of the threats and menaces suffered by the victims and their families.

"The violence caused by the narco trade has reached intolerable levels in Mexico. The feeling of impunity breeds terror and enriches the very people who provoke it. This situation must change.

"We are aware that fighting the narco trade is not easy. Nevertheless, we ask for a greater effort from the Mexican Government in finally eradicating the problem, which causes a great deal of pain, destabilises the state structures and threatens democracy and the rule of law. To be credible, that effort must be visible, effective and coordinated at the different levels of the Mexican administration.

"As members of the European Parliament, we will also propose to the S&D Group to promote an urgency resolution on the crimes against journalists, Human rights defenders and community leaders in Mexico during the June plenary session."