EU telecoms chief slams Hungarian media law

Ms Kroes said the law is jeopardising fundamental rights by requiring registration of all media, including blogs and forums, obliging them to "engage in balanced coverage of national and European events" and by making the Media Authority subject to political control.

As for compliance with EU audiovisual rules, the Hungarian law "seems to raise a problem ... because its provisions appear to apply also to media firms established in other member states, which would be contrary to the 'country of origin' principle."

Ms Kroes recalled the statements made last week by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who admitted the law may be altered if the commission finds it is in breach of EU legislation.

"I am fully confident that Hungary, being a democratic country, will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the new media law is implemented in full respect of European values in media freedom and relevant EU legislation," she said.

Her comments add to the plethora of critical voices which have so far been brushed off by the centre-right government in Budapest, proud of its super-majority in the parliament allowing it to push through laws with little opposition and even envisage a constitutional change.

The EU on Friday (7 January) received an open letter slamming the law signed by 70 former statesmen and human rights activists including former Czech president Vaclav Havel, former Hungarian president Arpad Goencz, German dissident and writer Lutz Rathenow and Polish newspaper editor Adam Michnik.

"Just 20 years after Communism collapsed, Hungary's government, though elected democratically, is misusing its legislative majority to methodically dismantle democracy's checks and balances, to remove constitutional constraints, and to subordinate to the will of the ruling party all branches of power, independent institutions and the media," the personalities wrote.

On Monday, the head of EU's economic and social committee - a consultative body - Staffan Nilsson, called on the EU and the Hungarian government to involve press and publishers' associations in the assessment and debate of media freedom in Hungary.

"Design and enforcement of any media regulatory framework needs to comply with democratic standards in the field of media system organization and governance," Mr Nilsson said in a statement.