EU's Barroso expects Hungarian 'clarification' on media

Wed, 05 Jan 2011

Brussels/Budapest - The head of the European Union's executive said Wednesday ahead of a visit to Budapest that he expects Hungary to clarify a controversial media law accused of gagging press freedom.

The law, which foresees, among other things, stiff penalties for media outlets that report in an "unbalanced" manner, has been lambasted by Hungarian journalists, non-governmental organizations and some foreign governments.

Hungary took over the EU's rotating presidency on Saturday, giving the issue a high political profile.

"What of course I would like to have from the Hungarian authorities is a clarification of the situation and the possible lifting of those doubts that exist," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.

Meanwhile, Hungary continued to reject criticism of its new regulations on media content, as well as doubts over its fitness to hold the EU presidency.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters that a cabinet meeting earlier this week had found no reason to amend the new media law in any way.

Peter Szijjarto claimed that protests by numerous Hungarian newspapers and reporters prove that "the law that came into effect on January 1 in no way harms the freedom of the press."

The government "categorically rejects all statements that call into doubt Hungary's capability to conduct the EU presidency", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Germany's Deputy Foreign Minister Werner Hoyer said on Tuesday that his country opposed Hungary's hosting talks on media matters at a May Eastern Partnership summit with countries such as Belarus and Ukraine.

Barroso is to travel to Budapest on Thursday for a traditional beginning-of-presidency meeting with Orban. During He said he would definitely discuss the new law with the Hungarian premier.

Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes has already written to the Hungarian authorities to demand more information on aspects of the law that are seen as potentially troublesome in Brussels.

If the Commission were to decide that the law violates EU rules, it could demand its repeal and, if necessary, take Hungary to court.

However, Barroso stressed that he "cannot at this moment prejudge" the outcome of the commission's investigation.

Speaking simultaneously in Budapest, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said that his country was "ready to cooperate and to give all explanations" to end the controversy.

"In this time of overheated debate, the wisest thing we can do is to wait for the commission investigation," he told a group of journalists flown in from Brussels to cover the presidency opening.

At the same time, he sounded a less defiant note than Orban, who has in the past ruled out even contemplating changes to the law.

When asked whether his government would bring in amendments if necessary, Martonyi said, "It is premature to say this. We are not yet there."

Earlier on Wednesday, EU officials confirmed that they had just received a translation of the Hungarian media law.

Hungarian media noted the same day, however, that numerous paragraphs were missing from the English version, which has also been posted on the website of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH).

The central media authority said that all provisions relevant to regulation of media content had been included.

Paragraphs covering, for example, temporary regulations and others that are due to be lifted had been omitted are now being translated, the NMHH told the state news agency MTI.

The text runs to 194 pages, with experts saying it could take "weeks or months" to analyze its legal implications.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360864,expects-hungarian-clarification-media.html.