EUROPEAN COMMISSION chief José Manuel Barroso has entered the controversy over stringent new media laws in Hungary, saying he wants prime minister Viktor Orban to “clarify” the measures when he meets him in Budapest tomorrow.
The opening days of Hungary’s six-month presidency of the EU have been overshadowed by disquiet over claims that the legislation restricts media freedom. Luxembourg has suggested that the severity of the law is enough to bring into question the appropriateness of the country presiding over EU affairs.
Although EU governments typically use the rotating presidency to project a positive image of their country on the European stage, Hungary has been on the defensive over the media law and “crisis” business taxes which it is alleged discriminate against foreign firms.
Mr Barroso attached weight to each of the issues in a press conference, saying media freedom was “sacred” in the EU and adding that internal market rules preventing commercial discrimination were “very important” to the union.
In spite of political pressure on Mr Orban from Brussels, a Commission spokesman said it could take weeks or months before it completed a legal review of the media law. Whether the Commission takes legal proceedings against Hungary for breaching EU law on the freedom of expression depends on the outcome of this review.
The affair comes as EU governments prepare to resume difficult talks, under Hungary’s chairmanship, over new rules to strengthen the union’s system of economic governance.
Mr Orban’s centre-right administration remains defiant in its defence of the media law and the business taxes, but Mr Barroso made it clear yesterday that the Commission’s “doubt” over both matters has yet to be dispelled. The EU’s executive arm also said it would be a “shame” if the country’s period in office was marred by the controversy.
The media law prohibits the violation of “human dignity” by the press and it provides for fines up to 200 million forint (€724,000) to be levelled against media deemed to have breached the code.
International criticism of the law comes as a succession of major companies criticise “crisis” taxes on the telecoms, retail and energy sectors in Hungary for discriminating against foreign groups.
Both issues will be addressed tomorrow when the 27-member Commission meets Mr Orban’s government to mark the beginning of the Hungarian presidency.
“The Commission — even before receiving some complaints, before this issue was made very important by the media itself — we have expressed some concerns,” Mr Barroso said.
“The Commissioner responsible in a letter to the Hungarian authorities has expressed some concerns and what of course I would like to have from the Hungarian authorities is a clarification of the situation and, if possible, let’s say lifting of the doubts that exist. And let’s say this issue is going to be in my contacts with prime minister Orban.”
