US EditionEU Slams Hungary over Media Infringement, Threatens ECJ Suit
The European Commission cites Hungary's breaches of media freedom laws including source protection, transparency, and state advertising, with a two-month response deadline.
- On Thursday, the European Commission sent Hungary a formal letter of notice opening infringement proceedings for alleged breaches of the European Media Freedom Act and Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
- The Commission said Hungarian authorities restrict journalists’ economic activities and editorial freedom, national law in Hungary lacks adequate protection for sources and confidential communications, and transparency issues affect media ownership and state allocation of advertising.
- Budapest has two months to reply to the Commission's formal notice, and if unsatisfactory, the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion; the Commission said `Hungary is also in breach of certain requirements relating to national media regulatory authorities`.
- Much of Hungary's media market is consolidated among allies of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose influence will come into focus during national parliamentary elections due by April and the coming weeks.
- The dispute could be escalated to the European Court of Justice, which fined Hungary €200 million last year, and NGOs like Reporters Without Borders warn of a worsening media landscape.
11 Articles
11 Articles
EU slams Hungary over media infringement, threatens ECJ suit
The European Commission has demanded Hungary address non-compliance issues with EU media laws. The bloc says Hungary fails to protect journalistic independence and that national media ownership and oversight are murky.
EU Commission Launches Infringement Procedure Against Hungary—Again
The European Commission has launched its newest attack against Hungary for what it describes as systemic non-compliance with EU media freedom rules designed to guarantee press independence and protect journalists and their sources. The action, initiated with a letter of formal notice, focuses on Hungary’s implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). EU countries were required to tr…
The European Commission accuses the Hungarian government of restricting the independence of the press, and a case has now been launched against the country.
"Ingerence in media work, limiting its economic activities and editorial freedom" (ANSA)
EFJ welcomes EU infringement proceedings against Hungary; Lithuania should also be targeted
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission on Thursday against Hungary for violation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The EFJ calls on the EU executive to do the same with regard to Lithuania, following Thursday’s vote on provisions that repoliticise the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, in clear breach of the…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
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