Brussels, 10/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - After an eventful passage and despite the attempts of the EPP, the European Parliament (EP) finally adopted the joint resolution from the S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, and GUE/NGL groups on the Hungarian media law. The resolution, carried by 316 votes to 264, with 33 abstentions in Strasbourg on Thursday 10 March, criticises not only the failings of the amendments brought by Hungary on 16 February but also the actions of the Commission, which, MEPs claim, has focused on a few technical points to the neglect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EP flags up the dangers this law continues to present to freedom of expression in Hungary and to the work of journalists. MEPs also regret the threats to media pluralism and freedom in other member states, such as Italy, Estonia, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
In adopting this resolution, MEPs call on Hungary to “urgently” review its law on the basis of the remarks made by organisations such as the Council of Europe and the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The two organisations took the view that the changes made by Hungary did not go far enough and criticised “prescriptions on content that media outlets must provide; the establishment of a politically unbalanced regulatory machinery with disproportionate powers and lack of full judicial supervision; threats to the independence of public-service broadcast media; and erosion of the protection of journalists' sources”, as the Council of Europe had highlighted in an opinion on 25 February.
The EP says that Hungary should repeal and not apply the laws or their provisions that are “found to be incompatible with the letter or spirit” of EU laws and other European conventions. Hungary should also restore independence of media governance and stop state interference with freedom of expression. It calls on the Commission to propose a directive on media freedom, pluralism and independent governance in the EU before the end of this year. This request is not new but has always met with reticence on the part of the Commission which says there is no provision for any such thing in the Treaties. MEPs reject this argument, setting out a series of legal bases in their opinion, from internal market, telecoms, audiovisual policy to competition, public aid, public service requirements and fundamental rights. This is not the first time the EP has spoken out on the media. In 2004, with the Boogerd-Quaak report which focused principally on Italy, the EP stressed that media independence and pluralism were a key guarantee of freedom of expression and information and drew attention to the risks of infringement. However, “it is the first time in this parliament”, a source said. At the end of 2009, the EP failed to pass a resolution on the state of information and the media in Italy. (S.P./transl.rt)