European parliament insists on further changes to Hungary's media law

The European Parliament has called on Hungary to further review its controversial new media law, brought into force on 1 January this year.

MEPs today voted 316 to 264, with 33 abstentions, in favour of a resolution calling on Hungary to "repeal and not apply the laws or its provisions that are 'found to be incompatible with the letter or spirit' of EU laws and other European conventions".

The controversial law gave Hungary's state media body, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), the power to fine broadcasters and newspapers for violating "public interest, public morals or order" and made the NMHH responsible for deciding if printed or broadcast content is "balanced".

But following today's resolution, which was tabled by the S&D, GUE/NGL, ALDE and Greens/EFA parties, the parliament has called on the country to "restore independence of media governance and to stop state interference with freedom of expression and their insistence on 'balanced coverage'".

MEPs have also asked the European Commission to "propose a directive on media freedom, pluralism and independent governance before the end of this year".

The parliament was due to vote on the Hungarian law on 18 February but the vote was postponed after MEPs requested more time to assess last minute amendments to the legislation made by the country in an effort to bring it in line with EU rules.

Hungary's amendments proposed to change the legislation in four key areas which the European Commission decided did not comply with the EU's Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive and the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 11 on freedom of expression). The government pledged that:

• the law covering balanced reporting would be changed to apply only to broadcast media, as in other member states, and not to "on-demand" media services;
• media outlets were also given back the freedom to register with the NMHH within a 60-day period of beginning to offer services, rather than before;
• the law's restrictions on incitement to hatred would also no longer apply to media outlets established in other EU countries;
• the government would clarify the use of the term "offences to minority or majority groups", for which fines were imposable, applying it only in cases of discrimination or incitement to hatred.

But prior to today's vote, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Council for Europe warned that despite Hungary's amendments, the law still violated OSCE press freedom standards.

"The legislation can still be misused to curb alternative and differing voices in Hungary despite modifications adopted following a request from the European Commission," OSCE representative on freedom of the media, Dunja Mijatović said on 8 March.

Hungary's undertakings were not enough to convince MEPs either, and the law will have to be amended yet again before it falls in line with EU rules.

Following today's vote, MEPs warned that "media pluralism and freedom continues to be a grave concern in the EU and its member states, notably in Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic and Estonia".

An alternative draft resolution tabled by the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), which welcomed the changes made by Hungary, was withdrawn shortly before today's vote.

Image by soylentgreen23 on Flickr. Some rights reserved

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