Hungary
Hungary amends media law to satisfy EU concernsPosted Mar 2 2011
Neelie Kroes addresses the media at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, in Feb. 27, 2008. Kroes welcomes amendments to the new Hungary media law. (AP Photo: Yves Logghe)
After months of controversy surrounding new media law, Hungary agreed to address the concerns raised by the European Commission.
On Feb. 16, EuropeanVoice.com reported that EU Telecoms Chief Neelie Kroes welcomed the amendments to the law. She also mentioned that the Commission would “continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the Hungarian authorities.” Hungary is supposed to implement the changes to the law in a week’s time.
There were four major concerns in the law that invited criticism:
- A requirement that all media provide ‘balanced coverage’
- Compulsory government registration for media outlets
- Strict rules for foreign media operating in Hungary
- A provision that media content could not ‘cause offense’
While these issues were addressed in the amendments, there was one that wasn’t. A provision of the law set up a five-person media council, which would serve a term of nine years. The Commission was concerned that the members of the council would mainly consist of government sympathizers.
The Financial Times noted that “there was no mention” of the council in the proposed changes to the law.