Brussels, 22/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has not wished to comment on the worrying situation of press freedom in Hungary, although the parliament of this member state, on Tuesday 21 December, definitively adopted a new law that manifestly gives cause for concern regarding freedom of the national press. This is all the more worrying as Hungary is to take over the rotating presidency of the European Council of Ministers from 1 January 2011. “As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will assess the situation closely to see whether European laws and principles are being upheld. It will then see whether it is appropriate to act but, for now, we cannot comment”, a Commission spokesman repeatedly said in response to the battery of questions fired at him by journalists during Wednesday's midday press briefing.
The Hungarian law was adopted by 256 votes to 87 despite protest from the national press. A number of newspapers published empty first pages as a sign of protest. The conservative party under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has a large two-thirds majority in parliament, is reported to have passed the law without difficulty. The law will take effect on 1 January 2011 and radio and television channels as well as the written press and internet information sites will have to organise themselves around it. In practice, there will only be a single newspaper left - that produced by the Hungarian national press agency. Its news bulletin will be broadcast on the three state television and radio channels. Furthermore, news items may not contain more than 20% news relating to criminal matters. Private media will also be controlled. The new media council, whose five members belong to the Fidesz party, will be empowered to impose severe fines on productions that are not “politically balanced” or that are “are detrimental to human dignity”. Fines may reach 200 million forints (€700,000) for television and 25 million (€89,000) for newspapers or online publications. The new authority will be authorised to inspect all documents available to a media body without there having to be an offence committed to warrant this. Also, journalists will be compelled to give their sources if the subject treated pertains to “national security”.
The Freedom House, the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Reporters without Borders, the European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and many others feel the parliament's decision is unacceptable. “This law draws the media under the power of a body whose authority and legitimacy are questionable”, commented EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “Regulating the written press can reduce freedom of the media and public debate, which are vital elements of democracy”, said Dunja Mijatovic of the OSCE for his part. In a joint press release addressed to the Hungarian prime minister, ENPA, the WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers) stress: “The fact that a government-controlled body will supervise what is allowed and what is not allowed in the press is a major step back and is contrary to democratic principles such as freedom of the press as well as universal human rights”.
Greens/EFA Group reacts
In a press release, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms, who are co-presidents for the Greens/EFA Group at the European Parliament, reacted emotionally to the situation. Cohn-Bendit calls on the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to take the necessary measures in order to have the law withdrawn. In his view, it is insufferable for control of this kind to be taken by a country belonging to the EU, in total contradiction with the European Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Rebecca Harms said for her part that the Parliament would intervene during the plenary session in January if no action is taken by the Commission and Council in order to put pressure on these two bodies against what “should be interpreted as violation of the values of the EU”. (I.L./transl.jl)