The European Commission announced, on Friday 15 July, its decision to bring an action before the Court of Justice of the European Union against Hungary for the decision of the Hungarian Media Council to reject the application for renewal of radio spectrum rights by the media company Klubradio on what it considers to be discriminatory and non-transparent grounds (see also another article in this news bulletin).
The Commission considers that Hungary has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Directive establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (EU/2018/1972). It also states that the Hungarian media law was applied in a discriminatory manner in this case. Finally, it criticises Hungary for failing to respect the principle of freedom of expression set out in Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in its implementation of EU law.
On 9 June 2021, the Commission activated infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Hungary. This first stage of the procedure was followed, on 2 December 2021, by a reasoned opinion from the Commission addressed to the Hungarian authorities in the absence of a satisfactory response from them on measures to remedy these violations of EU law. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)