Hungary backs down over media law

Hungary has agreed to change its controversial media law to meet all EU legal requirements, a major breakthrough in a high-profile row that overshadowed the start of the country’s EU presidency.

It had been heavily criticised for putting all media under the scrutiny of a government-dominated authority.

Media can be fined on broad grounds, including offensive content. The law, which also centralises the state media’s news programs, took effect on January 1 and overshadowed the start of Hungary’s six months in the rotating EU presidency.

“The Hungarian authorities intend to implement these changes to the law using fast-track procedure within the coming two weeks,” an EU Commission spokesman said.

Many in the EU had seen the media law as sign that Hungary was refusing to play by the democratic rules of the union and accused prime minister Viktor Orban of muzzling opposition at home and trying to bully the other member states in the EU.

The timing of the media fight could not come at a worse moment, just as Hungary started its EU presidency, a position that often gives the holder unmatched exposure on the world stage and also has a huge impact on deciding the EU’s political agenda.

The agreement should now smooth cooperation between Brussels and Budapest.

The Hungarian Cabinet will soon discuss the proposed changes to the media law and the amendments will be presented to parliament likely within two weeks.

Zoltan Kovacs, the government’s communications chief said: “This is an agreement which fully satisfies the requirements both of the Hungarian government and the EU Commission. The changes to the law are basically refinements.”