Brussels, le 18/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes sent another complaint to the Hungarian justice minister, Tibor Havracsics, on Tuesday 17 January, on the same day that the European Commission decided to launch three-pronged infringement proceedings against Hungary over lack of independence of its central bank, lack of independence of judges and the country's data protection authority. Kroes is concerned about failure to respect plurality of the media and recent decisions by the government to shut down Klubradio (an opposition radio station) and other media by removing their broadcasting licences, explained one of the commissioner's spokespersons, Ryan Heath, on Wednesday. In the letter to the Hungarian government, the commissioner says that respect of the freedom and plurality of the media does not simply mean a technically correct implementation of EU and national rules, but above all, applying and shoring up these fundamental principles in action, said Heath, adding that the Commission would be keeping a close watch on how the law is applied. The commissioner urged the government to respect the ruling of Hungary's constitutional court on the new media law, which pointed out in December 2011 that journalists are entitled to protect their sources.
Early in 2011, when the storm broke over the media law (right at the start of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU), Kroes did not issue infringement proceedings against Hungary. The controversy died down after an exchange of letters, with Hungary promising to change the law and provisions about balanced coverage and the media licensing and registration rules which the European Commission said breached the EU broadcasting directive and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Will the commissioner go further this time? At this stage, the spokesman says that no legal action is yet planned and contact is continuing, but Hungary will have to comply with the plurality of the media rules. The Commission has not ruled out legal action but is at present keeping a close eye on what the Hungarian government is doing. The commissioner explained in her letter that while EU rules did not force member states to issue any particular number of media licences, it is always better for there to be more competition in this area and EU laws require licences to be issued in a fair, transparent manner.
Plurality of the media has long been a stalking horse for a number of political parties at the European Parliament, which have been calling (in vain thus far) for an EU directive on the question. Plurality of the media has been flouted by Orban's government in Hungary recently, and also during the Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU under Silvio Berlusconi, against whom various parties in the EP tried unsuccessfully to have a resolution passed. Rather than a directive, and wanting to show the EP that it has taken some action against Hungary, the Commission set up a high-level working group on plurality of the media in October 2011, but its purpose and powers have yet to be decided upon. It is known, however, that the group will be asked to issue reports and recommendations and is expected to meet in Brussels on 25 January 2012 to discuss the Hungarian radio broadcasting licences system and the Hungarian media law. (SP/transl.fl)