Brussels, 21/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - At the meeting of EU justice ministers in Gödöllö, Germany's secretary of state for justice, Max Stadler, repeated Germany's concerns about the new Hungarian media law, pointing out that Germany is a staunch defender of freedom of the press, describing is as 'crucial' and saying that the Bundestag is currently passing a law to increase the security of journalists. The draft law will boost the protection of journalists and their sources alike, he explained, calling on the European Commission to continue its study of the Hungarian law. He said he was sure the Commission would be publishing its assessment very soon. Stadler was speaking on the fringe of the meeting because the media law was not on the agenda and EU Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding had not been able to attend, sending as her representative the Director-General of DG Justice and Fundamental Rights. A source explained that Reding had sent her apologies but had had to chair another important meeting and had been unable to attend. A spokesman for Reding, Matthew Newman, explained that primary responsibility for the Hungarian law was in the hands of EU Media Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who was planning to send a second letter to the Hungarian government in this connection. In Gödöllö, Hungarian justice minister Tibor Navracsics confirmed that a new letter from Neelie Kroes had indeed been received in Budapest and Hungarian experts would be replying to it as soon as possible.(S.P. trans fl)