Brussels, 04/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 February, MEPs in the Media Intergroup at the European Parliament issued a press release regretting that the European Commission, which has been asked to assess whether the new Hungarian media law complies with EU legislation, has only examined technical issues and has ignored the EU's democratic values.
On Thursday, the MEPs will meet with the EU commissioner responsible for this matter, Neelie Kroes. They accuse the European Commission of lamentable lack of political will. On 21 January, the commissioner sent Budapest a second letter calling for explanations over three issues and detailing potential problems with EU law and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Hungarian government replied on Monday 31 January, challenging Kroes' version of events, particularly the question of balanced coverage that would damage freedom of expression, but promised to discuss the matter with the Commission and change the law where necessary. This offer was accepted by the commissioner and on Monday 7 February officials from her department will meet in Brussels with the Hungarian government.
The Intergroup MEPs fear that these discussions will be turned to the benefit of the Hungarians and the Commission will solely focus on technical issues. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (ALDE) said it was understandable that one might start with technical and legal issues but it was essential to move beyond them. Jean-Marie Cavada (EPP) said technical work should end with a full, democratic, no-holds-barred revision of the law. Meanwhile, the Intergroup MEPs say they will be extremely vigilant over this issue and developments across the whole of Europe and to this end, they are organising a hearing on the very worrying situation regarding freedom of the press in Europe at the European Parliament on 1 March 2011.
Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg, travelled to Budapest on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 January and called on Tuesday 1 February for the European Commission's examination of the Hungarian media law to be examined not only from the EU viewpoint but also in terms of Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights that covers freedom of speech and protection of journalists' sources. Hammarberg said the raft of concerns about the new Hungarian law show that there is a danger of putting off the media and causing self-imposed censorship within the profession. (S.P./transl.fl)